LT JG WILLIAM BREWSTER NICKERSON
“Bruce” was, born in Massachusetts, on March 17, 1942, to Ernest Carlton Nickerson and Shirley Swaim Nickerson. His ancestry is a storied Cape Cod Heritage as a direct descendent of William Nickerson who came to Cape Cod on the Mayflower in 1620. The elder Brewster purchased from the Native Americans what is now the town of Chatham. He was the son of Ernest Carlton Nickerson, who was the President of Cape Cod Community College. Young Bruce also spent time with his mother, Shirley Nickerson, who was a resident of Naples, Florida. He had two sisters.
He graduated from Deerfield Academy and was a 1964 graduate of Dartmouth College where he was President of Palaeopitus, the student governing body. He enlisted in the Navy, where he was first in his flight class. He was limited to ground service because of a disability, but appealed to Secretary of the Navy, and because of his record, was, allowed to fly.
His tour start date is unknown. He was, assigned to Attack Squadron 85. On April 22, 1966, he flew an A-6 Intruder as bombardier/Navigator, from the Kitty Hawk on a reconnaissance mission near the City of Vinh in Ha Tim Province and his aircraft crashed about 5 miles offshore.
He received the Naval Flight Officer Wings, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal w/Bronze 1, Navy&Marine Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense, Vietnam Service w 2 Bronze Stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, and Vietnam Campaign Medals.
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