CPL Robert James Nicklyn, Saginaw, MI on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

In December 1969, the first draft lottery after Korea assigned number 176 to Robert J. Nicklyn, born October 25,1950.

Throughout 1970, the Selective Service System called men born between 1944 and 1950 to report for induction into the armed services with draft lottery numbers 1 through 195. Nicklyn entered the Army on July 22, 1970.

Nicklyn had completed a course at Delta College in the fundamentals of home building and planned a career in the construction industry as an associate at Nicklyn Builders, a Saginaw business operated by his father.

Robert received Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) at Fort Polk located in Vernon Parish in West-Central Louisiana, better known as "The Crossroads". During his training, he earned skill badges for Expert with Machine Gun and Sharpshooter for Automatic Rifle. Upon his death, he was also awarded the Military Merit Medal and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm from the government of South Vietnam for his service in defense of their country. The United States Army confirmed with General Order, #8, in 1974 that all American servicemen who served in Vietnam and were awarded the Vietnam Service Medal were eligible. More details can be found at The American War Library.

Upon completion of AIT, Nicklyn was promoted to Private First Class and issued orders to report for assignment and transport to Vietnam following leave.

Robert Nicklyn spent his 1970 holidays with his parents and six brothers. He was last seen locally attending services in uniform at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. He arrived in Vietnam at Da Nang Air Base on January 10, 1971 to begin a 13 month tour of South Vietnam.

When he joined his company with the 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles", he was assigned as a radioman assigned for his company commander. He died in an ambush in one of the most active combat areas of Vietnam on his 107th day in country. Robert Nicklyn was posthumously promoted to corporal.

The 101st Airborne Division fought in some of the most brutal battles of Vietnam. The infamous battle on Hill 937 was named "Hamburger Hill" due to the intense hand-to-hand fighting during the prolonged operation. The causalities were so high in the 101st Airborne that soldiers who were not trained as paratroopers (aka: legs) were attached to the Division following the battle for Hill 937. The airborne training school at Fort Benning could not meet the high demand for replacement paratrooper personnel throughout the Army. The three battalions of the 506th list 666 KIA/MIA in Vietnam.

Mike Wilson served with "Nick" in Vietnam. Nicklyn was given the handle "Nick" by his squad members. Mike remembers, Nick was a jokester and when things were tense, he would crack a joke to ease the tension.

At the time of his death, Robert James Nicklyn's funeral service was held May 10, 1971 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Rev Harold Krach and Rev Steven Cluver officiated with internment at Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery with military escort.

He was survived by his mother, Alvina Rohn (1918-2011), his father, John Nicklyn (1916-1985), six brothers, John Peter, Carl Edwin, Richard Joseph, James Christian, Dennis Anthony, and Joseph Frederick Nicklyn, all of Saginaw and his grandfather Peter Nicklyn of AuGres.

They are buried in Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.