Private First Class Nickerson was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action while attacking enemy positions near Seoul, South Korea on 19 September 1950.

PFC Nickerson was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.