Corporal Nicewanner was a member of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 27 May 1951 and returned to duty on 30 May 1951. He was seriously wounded again on 28 August 1951 and returned on 2 September 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 13 September 1951.

Nicewanner was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, 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.