“IF NOT FOR LOLA”
By Judy Skilling
THE STORY OF RICHARD NICOLSON - USA - KOREA
In 1951, American Patriotism was high, the economy was booming and for Richard, he had a young family to support at the tender age of 19. Joining the United States Army would complete his dream of serving in the military, even though he knew it meant going to Korea and leaving his wife, Lola, and their baby.
The Korean War had only been going on for a year. Richard was assigned to Artillery with the Georgia National Guard Battalion. He supported the U.S. Marine amphibious tanks in Korea at the time.
Richard’s job was to maintain the 90 mm guns and keep defense of the tanks. He recalls standing duty on an observation post in Korea, and could see about 6-7 miles into the distance, across the Huang River. With locals working in the rice patty fields below him, he had to make sure to fire the 90 mm into the distance. Richard was quickly moved from that observation post and moved to his next assignment in the war.
He shared a story that in order to receive combat you had to be under enemy fire. Some of the Marines would etch “shoot me” on the side of the tank, so they would get shot at to receive the $45 of combat pay (equivalent to $466 today). It was a big to risk your fellow soldier’s life but they didn’t care; they wanted the money.
Serving in the Korean War was something that Richard never forgot, and it scared him to death numerous times. Hearing constant gunfire was something he never got used to. His best memory from the war, though, was when he was returning home from his tour of duty. He recalls that he was riding a crew ship, and it was cold, wet, and miserable during the transport. He was pulling into Seattle, Washington and saw his family. The emotions he felt seeing his wife, his parents, and his child were overwhelming. He was safe at home with the people he loved the most.
After his tour in Korea, Richard went into the Active Army Reserves and served his country for 28 more years. Throughout that time, he was stationed at several Army bases, such as Ft. Lewis in Washington, Ft. Hood in Texas, Ft. Benning in Georgia, Ft. Polk in Louisiana, and Ft. Bliss in Texas.
Richard shared an intimate story of Lola when they were stationed at Ft. Bliss. Lola had gone into labor with their daughter, and with no vehicle to get herself to the hospital, she had to ride the bus to get to the base hospital. The bus driver knew she was in labor and drove right up to the gate, alerting the gate guards that he had a woman in labor on the bus. The gate guards immediately took her and drove her to the base hospital. When she arrived, she was greeted by the base doctor, who took her inside. She gave birth shortly after arriving.
His favorite tour of duty, was at the Pentagon, Richard shares. It was a 6-month tour where he was a personnel officer assisting different leaders within the Pentagon. To be at the Nation’s capital was an amazing experience for him. He would ride a shuttle bus each day into the Pentagon, and on some days, he was offered a ride into the facility. He explained that random strangers would pick up servicemen & women to create the necessary occupants in each vehicle to equal 3 people because the driver needed 3 people to drive onto the Pentagon facility.
Richard credits his Army service to his wife, Lola. She was incredibly supportive of him and stood by his side as he was fighting during the Korean war as well as during the numerous military moves. Richard gives her all the credit and calls her the “hero” of their marriage. Today, they have 4 children and many grandchildren.
After serving for 28 years, his family relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they lived for 35 years. Richard is grateful for his time in the service, and when asked what he would tell the younger generation about joining the military, he replied, “In the Army, you spend time practicing how to be miserable, so join the other branches where you’re not as miserable.”