Read on Twitter
Lewis "Blackbeard" Nixon III was born September, 1918 in New York. On Jan 14, 1941, he was inducted into the U.S Army at Trenton, New Jersey, and headed to Officer's Candidate School. It was here he would meet Richard Winters and both would graduate as 2nd Lieutenants
1/
1/
Nixon volunteered for the paratroopers, and was assigned to Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Nixon was initially assigned to 2nd platoon.
2/
Nixon was initially assigned to 2nd platoon.
2/
While in the U.S, before the regiment left for England to prepare for the Normandy invasion, Nixon was assigned as the 2nd Battalion Intelligence Officer (S2). He jumped into Normandy on D-Day, and shortly after the taking of Carentan, was promoted to Regimental S2.
3/
3/
He jumped into The Netherlands & fought in the Battle of the Bulge with the 506th. He remained with the 506th through Germany, but was reassigned back down to battalion level as the Operations Officer (S3) due to a drinking problem.
4/
4/
Nixon still proved invaluable and gifted at his job.
Nixon was one of the few men of the 101st Airborne to make more than 2 combat jumps & also jump with a different division in WW2.
5/
Nixon was one of the few men of the 101st Airborne to make more than 2 combat jumps & also jump with a different division in WW2.
5/
This occured when General Taylor, commander of 101st Airborne, assigned him as a liaison observer with the 17th Airborne for Operation Varsity, a jump into Germany, on March 25, 1945.
6/
6/
Nixon ended the war w the rank of Captain & returned home, Sep 1945, apparantly having never had to fire a shot during combat (not surprising given his job). He had been skilled at his job & it was noted by the men that he was always present on the front line with the troops
7/
7/
After the war Nix had some tough years due to alcoholism & had a few failed marriages. But in 1956 he married Grace Umezawa (pictured with Nix), with Winters as his best man, and she helped him overcome his problems. They remained happily married until his death Jan 11, 1995
8/
8/
His lifelong friend, Dick Winters, gave the eulogy at his funeral.
Nixon was portrayed by Ron Livingston in #BandofBrothers. Many Easy veterans remarked at the physical likeness of the men, how they had done a double take at the series premiere when they saw Ron beside Grace
9/
Nixon was portrayed by Ron Livingston in #BandofBrothers. Many Easy veterans remarked at the physical likeness of the men, how they had done a double take at the series premiere when they saw Ron beside Grace
9/
Nixon rests beside Grace who passed in 2016.
Rest easy and Currahee
10/
Rest easy and Currahee
10/
