Harold and Bud Nickum Write
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nickum have heard from their sons, Harold and Bud for the first time in many weeks.
Both are aboard the U.S.S. Portland somewhere at sea.
Harold says: "I suppose you are wondering what has happened to Bud and I. We are well and happy.
This is the first good chance I have had to write for some time. I sure would like to tell you where Bud and I are at present, but you know that is impossible to do. "I hope so much that the kids at home have a very nice Christmas, as far as I am concerned, forget about me and make the children at home as happy as possible. Your Christmas gifts will be late again this year-hope you don't mind." In closing he says "I love you both and wish you a merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Lawrence "Bud" also writes and his message is in the same tone as his brother's. He states that he and Harold may be separated and infers that it is because it is best to have relatives on different ships in case of disaster.
In speaking about his birthday, he says: "My last one I had a pretty good time, but this one-I'll let you think the time I had.
I don't care for anything any more we have a job to be done, the sooner we get it done the better."
Love. Lawrence J. Nickum.

He has taken part in various aerial attacks throughout the entire year while operating in the South Pacific. He wears a red, white and blue bar for this action. He states that in the battle of the Solomon Islands he was at his battle station for three days and three nights below the first deck.

He spent 120 days at sea without seeing land at any time. The fuel oil tankers brought mail occasionally. Entertainment consists of music by records and the ships library. No cameras and no radios are allowed on board. "Bud" as he is familiarly known, said the U-boats attacked them several times but never succeeded in hitting them.
His picture appeared in life magazine after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Boys from home whom he has seen are Virgil McConnell, Roy Schoening, Howard Campbell and Harvey Thompsen at Pearl Harbor and Amos Misselhorn and LaVerne Schroeder in California.
He brought back various types of beads from Australia, Hawaii and different places in the South Pacific. Also Japanese money, fountain pen and cigarettes and best of all, a Jap tooth given to him by a Marine on an island which they had captured.

He states that the greatest fear experienced was during air raids. He carries a paper from T. R. Wirth his commanding officer, U. S. Navy which reads:
To Whom It May Concern:
It is requested that Lawrence J. Nickum, U. S. N., having served more than twelve months in the Pacific combat zone, be given every consideration while on leave from his vessel."
Bud expects to complete his ten day leave Tuesday.

Lawrence "Bud" Nickum, of the USS Portland, writes that he is well and happy and having a good time. He says that the last he heard, Harold was around Australia. In closing he says: "Tell Tossy I was reading about him in the paper.
Give them h---, especially Carroll.
Wish I were back there to play football again.

Manning Monitor article ------ 1944

Dec. 21. 1944.
Dear Sirs:
Just a few lines to say hello to my friends in Manning.
I have been receiving the Monitor OK and I want to thank you and the American Legion for sending it to me. I really appreciate receiving the Monitor and its nice to read what's going on around the home town.

I few days ago I was really surprised when my brother came walking in on me. He's been operating with me for some time but this is the first time we had a chance to get together since we were separated Jan. 15, 1943, in Sydney, Australia.

We had three hours together and it sure was nice talking to him again. Also came across Donald Joens a few months back.
I hope this reaches you OK and thanks again.
Sincerely yours,
S. F. 2/c L. J. Nickum.

Manning Monitor article ------ 1945

Bud Nickum Writes
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dan have recently received a letter from Mrs. Dan's brother, "Bud" Nickum, stating that he is getting along quite well and that he was able to spend New Years Day with his brother Harold, on his ship.
Bud says that he has been spending his time in the following manner:
His ship participated in the Palau operations Oct. 1, 1944
In the landing at Leyte in Oct., 1944
In the Battle of Surigao Strait in the same month
In carrier strikes on Luzon in November
In the Mindora landing in Dec. in the Lingayen landings early this year.
"In the battle of Surigao Strait I spent some anxious moments, but I've had them before so I knew pretty well what was coming off.

"You could see the shells going through the air, and then a big, flash. I was on topside in all these so I saw just about everything. The Lingayen landing was really something too, but I got through them all O. K."

Every officer and man was at his battle station through most of the operations. Men on anti-aircraft batteries stayed at their guns 200 consecutive hours, napping fitfully between barrages. While bombarding beaches, the ship was repeatedly attacked by Japanese planes.
Effective fire from the ship's "AA" guns; recorded many downed enemy aircraft in the ship's log.

You know, mom and dad, there is a point system out for the navy but even with all my years at sea I am a few points shy. Of course if I had been a married man I would have had points to spare.
You know they say a sailor has a sweetheart in every port; maybe I should have married one of them by that I would have gained ten points which would have made me forty-nine points or in other words, five points more than I would need. For the number of points needed for release is forty-four.

I have wondered if when I am discharged and leave the ship I shall feel like some of the fellows to whom I have talked. Any number of them always say how much they miss their shipmates when they have been away on leave which is only a short while. For after all, we shipmates of this ship have really made a record.
No ship can surpass the record of this ship. I will look like a movie star sailor with all the ribbons and stars I have rightfully earned the privilege to wear. I rate fourteen stars an one more yet to come. I also rate five service bars and one of them being a good conduct.
Well, this will have to be all for now and I hope to be with you soon.
Love. BUD.

The Portland participated in virtually every major Pacific operation, sank two destroyers, damaged two cruisers and a battleship helped sink two battleships and two destroyers, shot down 22 planes and helped destroy eight, others.

He stated that he spent 120 days at sea without seeing land at any time. He said that the fuel oil tankers brought mail occasionally, and that entertainment consisted of music by records and the ship's library. No cameras and no radios were allowed aboard. He said the U-boats attacked them several times, but never succeeded in hitting them.
He has various types of souvenirs of his travels and experiences, the prize among them being a Jap tooth, given him by a marine on an island they had captured.

He has a paper from T. R. Wirth, his commanding officer, which reads:
"To Whom It May Concern: "It is requested that Lawrence J. Nickum, U. S. N., having served more than twelve months in the Pacific combat zone, be given every consideration while on leave from his vessel."

Seaman Nickum has just completed a ten-day furlough, which he spent visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nickum of ManI ning. Also his sister, Mrs. George Ross, jr., of Audubon.

Though only nineteen years old, he has seen a great deal of action. He wears a bar with a gold star, and two silver stars, signifying that he has taken part in seven battles. He took part in the battles of Coral Sea, Midway, the Solomons, and Santa Cruz; in raids on Tarawa, Maiama, Apanama and Makin Island, and in torpedo plane attacks and night action on Sava Island.

He has taken part in various aerial attacks throughout the entire year while operating in the South Pacific. He wears a red, white and blue bar for this action.
He states that in the battle of the Solomns he was at his battle station for three days and three nights below the first deck.

He spent 120 days at sea without seeing land at any time. The fuel oil tankers brought mail occasionally. Entertainment consists of music by records and the ships library.
No cameras and no radios are allowed on board. "Bud" as he is familiarly known, said the U-boats attacked them several times but never succeeded in hitting them.

His picture appeared in life magazine after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Boys from home whom he has seen are Virgil McConnell, Roy Schoening, Howard Campbell and Harvey Thompsen at Pearl Harbor and Amos Misselhorn and LuVerne Schroeder in California. He brought back various types of beads from Australia, Hawaii and different places in the South Pacific. Also Japanese money, fountain pen and cigarettes and best of all, a Jap tooth given to him by a Marine on an island which they had captured.

He states that the greatest fear experienced was during air raids. He carries a paper from T. R. Wirth his commanding officer, U. S. Navy which reads:
To Whom It May Concern:
It is requested that Lawrence J. Nickum, U. S. N., having served more than twelve months in the Pacific combat zone, be given every consideration while on leave from his vessel." Bud expects to complete his ten-day leave Tuesday.

Today I got the candy you sent and it sure was good, but it didn't last long.
Well dad just as you said there isn't much to write, but we'll do our best, when our tune comes.

I'll say again Harold and I are all-right and will take care of our selves.

Those pictures in the Manning Monitor were sure good excepting mine.
I suppose you can guess what hind of Christmas we had. But let the Japs come we are ready for them.

Dad, I couldn't tell you when you will hear from Harold and I again, but don't worry we will be all-right.
There isn't much to write each time, but I'll write every time I get a chance Harold will write in a couple of days.
Your Son, Bud. S. Write Soon.