Remembering WWII: Lewis Nickell volunteered

World War II was a time of disbelief, sadness, and loss. While many men around the nation were drafted to go and fight the war against Adolph Hitler, Lewis Nickell and his brother were not amongst them. On the contrary, they voluntarily signed up. In 1943, at the young age of 20, Lewis and his brother left Lineville, IA (population 200 - 300), hitching a ride to Des Moines and enlisted in the Army at Camp Dodge.

“We joined together, but we sure didn’t stay together,” recalled Nickell of all those years ago.

He was sent to Fort Bragg in North Carolina by train for Basic Training while his brother went to Wisconsin.

By the time he was 21-years-old, Lewis was headed for England. He remembers all too well the rough waters and the nearly three-week boat ride to get there.

When he first arrived, he was assigned to the Signal Corp. linking land, sea and air operational elements - running messages from the front of the line and relaying them. But soon after the Army said he no longer qualified for the position and moved him to supply delivery.

“I had it easy,” Lewis said matter-of-factly. “I was behind the fighters.”

But that didn’t mean he was necessarily out of harms way. He remembers all to well being wounded once with a rifle while carrying information to its destination. It was friendly fire, but it still earned him one of his two purple hearts from his tour of duty.

Seventy-five years later, after returning home from WWII, at the age of 96 (he will be 97 in April), Lewis can still recall as if it were yesterday taking shelter from enemy fire. He can still hear the warning sirens for the Air Raids and picture the bright lights that lit up the skies as they shot up “flac” otherwise known as particles that exploded in the air with the intent for shrapnel to hit and destroy the attacking planes. He remembers taking cover in bunkers where there were no lights allowed, and absolutely no cigarettes to give off a glow and give away their location.

For the full story, see this week's Eagle Grove Eagle. Subscribe by calling 1-800-558-1244 ext 122 or email Deb at circulation@midamericapub.com or by clicking here.