17. Nixon Served In The South Pacific As A Lieutenant Commander In The US Navy During World War II
As a birthright Quaker and a government employee, Nixon could have claimed exemption from the draft into the US Armed Services during World War II - but instead he applied for the Navy and was inducted in August 1942. After completing Officers Candidate School he was commissioned as an ensign in October 1942, originally being posted as an aide to the commander of the Naval Air Station Ottumwa in Iowa. However, Nixon craved greater action and was first reassigned as the naval passenger control officer for the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command, meaning he became the Officer in charge of the Combat Air Transport Command at Guadalcanal in the Solomons and then the Green Island. In October 1943 he was promoted to lieutenant and he earned two service stars and a citation of commendation, although he was not directly involved in any combat himself. Finally, in October 1945 Nixon was made lieutenant commander having returned to the US to worked at the Bureau of Aeronautics office in Philadelphia - and he received a second letter of commendation while there too. He left the Navy on January 1, 1946, following three-and-a-half years' service.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
