Letter and draft of letter to the Chief of Manpower Office from Patrick W. Richardson.
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry--United States
Defense information, Classified
Intermediate-range ballistic missiles
Jupiter missile
Leaks (Disclosure of information)
Huntsville (Ala.)
Madison County (Ala.)
Richardson writes to the Chief of Manpower prior to Nickerson's letter to the Chief of Manpower of July 25. Richardson states that the orders that Nickerson is not to use duty time to modify the sentence imposed upon him or for appeal is inappropriate and "perhaps illegal". He also states that Nickerson's assignment to the ABMA is unfair and, like Nickerson, requests that he be re-assigned to Redstone Arsenal "until all legal proceedings in this case are complete."
Richardson, Patrick W.
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives, Huntsville, Alabama
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Correspondence
Text
Letter to Colonel Nickerson and his wife, Carol, from Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to the Nickersons who now live in Panama on a two-year assignment. Bell updates Nickerson on events that happened since the last time he wrote. He details the outrage directed towards Charles Wilson, the Secretary of Defense. He states that he is saving "pertinent clippings from several newspapers" to send to Nickerson to help provide background to the latest events. Bell writes of many people who are advocating for Nickerson's return and vindication.
Bell, Robert K.
Letter to the Chief of Manpower Office from Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr.
Nickerson writes to the Chief of Manpower requesting a re-assignment on a temporary basis following his recent trial by court-martial at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Nickerson reported back to duty on July 11, 1957 and writes that his newly assigned duties are "of relatively no importance to the Army of to ABMA." Nickerson requests a new assignment that allows him back at Redstone Arsenal.
Nickerson, John C., Jr.
Photo of General John Bruce Medaris and another man in an Army uniform.
Photographs
Still Image
Medaris assumed command of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in 1955 under which Dr. Wernher von Braun and the German Rocket Team developed the Jupiter missile in 1958. On the back of the photo is written: "Medaris".
This photo shows the Jupiter missile as it is prepared for launch. On the back there is a sticky note that reads: "JUPITER Pre-Launch Activities".
Photo of the court room from the Nickerson case.
Carol Nickerson was the wife of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr.
Front page of The Huntsville Times from February 1, 1958.
Publications
Topics included on the front page of this newspaper include the Jupiter missile developed by the German Rocket Team and the announcement that it had circled the globe, and other various space topics.
The Huntsville Times
Newspapers
On back written in pencil: "Dr. Wernher von Braun".
Photo of General John Bruce Medaris, Dr. Wernher von Braun, and associates.
On back: "Key associates of vonBraun.Dr., pose with Maj. General. Medaris, J.B., immediately prior to the latters retirement from the Army in the fall of 1959.
Photo of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. with his family.
Photo of Ernst Stuhlinger speaking to the press.
Stuhlinger, Ernst, 1913-2008
Photos of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. with press.
Colonel John C. Nickerson married Carol Nickerson (right). Together, they had four children. Two of his children are pictured here.
Two copies of a photo of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Robert K. Bell, and Ray H. Jenkins.
Pictured in this photo is Colonel Nickerson (left), Robert K. Bell (middle, standing), and Ray H. Jenkins (right).
Photo of Robert K. Bell and Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr.
Robert K. Bell (left) was an attorney based in Huntsville, Alabama. He would form a part of Nickerson's (right) defense counsel in 1957 along with Ray H. Jenkins, Lt. Col. Charles Zimmer, and Lt. Lewis G. Cole.
Dr. Wernher von Braun was a part of the German Rocket Team that developed the Jupiter missile in 1958 under General John Bruce Medaris.
Photo of Ray H. Jenkins surrounded by press.
Ray H. Jenkins (center) was a lawyer that, along with Robert K. Bell, Lt. Col. Charles Zimmer, and Lt. Lewis G. Cole, would make up Nickerson's defense counsel for his court martial trial. Jenkins was considered the best lawyer in East Tennessee and appeared on the cover of Time magazine on May 17, 1954 during the Army-McCarthy hearings.