| John William Nicholson Sr. | |
| Birth Date: | 22 February 1934 |
| Allegiance: |  United States |
| Serviceyears: | 1956–1986 |
| Battles: | Vietnam War |
John William "Jack" Nicholson Sr. (born February 22, 1934)[1] is an American retired Brigadier General of the United States Army who was appointed secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) by President George W. Bush in January 2005.[2]
Prior to this appointment, he served as Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he directed the National Cemetery Administration.
Born and raised in Iowa,[1] he is a 1956 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he received the General MacArthur Leadership Award for his class, and holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania.[3] He is an airborne ranger combat infantryman and served two and one-half years with infantry units in Vietnam. Other overseas assignments during his 30-year Army career included duty in Germany, Korea, Lebanon and Switzerland. Recommended for a Silver Star for action in Vietnam, the award was approved in 2009.[4]
He currently serves on the board of advisors of the Code of Support Foundation, a nonprofit military service organization.[5]
He is the brother of Jim Nicholson, a former Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Chair of the Republican National Committee. His son John W. Nicholson Jr. is a 1982 graduate of West Point and was the U.S. Army general in charge of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan for more than 2 years. Nicholson Sr. and his wife Sophie have five children and thirteen grandchildren.[3]
"On Dec. 27, 1963, then Maj. Nicholson was serving as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Regional Forces and South Vietnamese Popular Force. During an eight-hour battle, their force was reduced from 200 to 40, and Nicholson directed friendly fire and mortar fire to help evacuate 13 wounded soldiers through enemy territory."[4]
| Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| Silver Star | |
| Defense Superior Service Medal | |
| Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster | |
| Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters | |
| Meritorious Service Medal | |
| Air Medal with V Device and bronze award numeral 48 | |
| Army Commendation Medal | |
| National Defense Service Medal | |
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one bronze service star | |
| Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars | |
| Korea Defense Service Medal | |
| Army Service Ribbon | |
| Army Overseas Service Ribbon | |
| Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order, 2nd class | |
| Vietnam Gallantry Cross with two palms | |
| Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | |
| Vietnam Campaign Medal |