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First Name
Aubrey
Middle Name
Allen
Last Name
Nichols
Birthdate
Hometown
El Paso, Texas
Rank
Commander
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Aubrey Nichols enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 13, 1959, and entered the U.S. Naval Academy on July 5, 1960, graduating with a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on June 3, 1964. Ensign Nichols next completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in December 1965, and then attended A-1 Skyraider Replacement Air Group training followed by service as an instructor pilot with VA-122 at NAS Lemoore, California, from January 1965 to May 1966. His next assignment was as an A-1 pilot with VA-25 at NAS Lemoore, and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) for combat operations in Southeast Asia from June 1966 to May 1968. After attending TF-9J Cougar training with VT-22 at NAS Kingsville, Texas, Lieutenant Nichols served as a TF-9J instructor pilot with VT-26 at NAS Chase Field, Texas, from August 1968 to March 1971. His next assignment was to A-7 Corsair II Replacement Air Group training with VA-125 at NAS Lemoore from April to November 1971, followed by service as an A-7 pilot with VA-56 at NAS Lemoore from November 1971 to April 1972, and then deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41) from April 1972 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on May 19, 1972.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Commander Nichols was released during Operation Homecoming on March 28, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California, and then served as an A-7 pilot with VA-122 at NAS Lemoore from October 1973 to January 1976, followed by service as an A-7 pilot with VA-25 at NAS Lemoore from January 1976 to October 1978. Commander Nichols' next assignment was as Operations Officer and then Executive Officer of NAS Fallon, Nevada, from October 1978 to May 1982, and then as Strike Operations Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65) from June 1982 to November 1984. His final assignment was with the Defense Nuclear Agency Field Command at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, from January 1985 until his retirement from the Navy on June 1, 1988.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
- Bronze Star (3)
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release