UAH Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives

Browse Items (215 total)

  • spc_nick_000096_000096.pdf

    This letter acknowledges the receipt of a letter, an envelope for delivery, two courtesty copies, and a carbon copy of various letters.
  • spc_nick_000122_000127.pdf

    Argument of Robert K. Bell before the General Court-Martial at Redstone Arsenal in defense of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. Nickerson plead guilty and Bell's testimony was present in an effort to "extenuate or mitigate whatever he might have done." Bell calls Nickerson's judgment "bad" and his actions "unfortunate" and "careless" but argues that he is not disloyal, disobedient, or promoting his own welfare above that of the Army or national security.
  • spc_nick_000611_000615.pdf

    This article, "Army 'Leak' Probe Agitates Redstone", published in the February 1957 issue, details secret information that went public in 1957 through Drew Pearson. The "leak" concerns the "Wilson Memorandum" that transfers the Army's role to the Air Force in the development and control of guided and ballistic missiles and rockets. The leak is traced back to Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. The article states that the "prevailing opinion is that Col. Nickerson is being made a scapegoat by persons very high up in the Army." The article further details the events that led to the court martial of Colonel Nickerson.
  • spc_nick_000228_000228.pdf

    This character testimony has no known author nor is it clear of whom the author is speaking about.
  • spc_nick_000261_000264.pdf

    Detailed information regarding the two charges brought against Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. and the corresponding specifications.
  • spc_nick_000316_000319.pdf

    To clarify his intentions of the actions he took that led him to be court-martial, John C. Nickerson, Jr. writes a detailed document outlining three points. This set of documents includes two drafts of his message.
  • spc_nick_000405_000414.pdf

    This compilation covers periods in Nickerson's career from 1939 to 1953. In includes various reporting officers writing of Nickerson's character, actions, and command.
  • spc_nick_000458_000458.pdf

    Handwritten contact information for Drew Pearson. Pearson was the journalist whom make Nickerson's classified documents public.
  • spc_nick_000305_000311.pdf

    Brownlow writes to give Nickerson the name of someone that would be interested in his case, Ray Jenkins, who would eventually join Nickerson's defense counsel with Robert K. Bell, along with two others. Nickerson responds, thanking Brownlow for the information. He expresses concern over financially securing Jenkins for his defense but hopes that Brownlow could still arrange a meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee. The third letter is a rough draft of Nickerson's response. Brownlow's second letter responds that she was able to get in touch with Ray Jenkins and left him with materials to read on Nickerson's case. Brownlow states she would get back to Nickerson as soon as he says "yes".
  • spc_nick_000587_000597.pdf

    Bowman writes to the U.S. Army Judiciary Clerk of Court Office to request a copy of the transcript of the Nickerson court martial proceedings. Mary B. Dennis, Deputy Clerk of Court responds that a large portion is classified and asks if he wants that material reviewed towards declassification though it would be a lengthy process. She also guides him towards other "publicably available documents" regarding the case. The following letters from Dennis regards the review of the classified transcripts of the Nickerson case and more details about the record of the trial. Bowman's second letter includes a check to pay for the transcripts and the review of the classified material. Dennis writes several more letters regarding more classified prosection exhibits and that Bowman's request to review the classified material has been denied. The final letter is the memo that states that the review has been denied from Deputy Director Robert J. Monahan.