KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General Larry Nicholson has made his home in East Tennessee. He is considered one of the military’s most combat-seasoned and widely admired generals.
Whenever the commander in Chief visits a military installation, it is usually the commanding general who gets to greet him. At Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Nicholson, then a two-star general and base commander, escorted President Barack Obama around in 2013.
“Marine One landed right there on our flight line at Pendleton, I got a chance to meet and greet him,” said Nicholson.
In 1980, right out of the Citadel, then Nicholson and his new bride were not too sure about a career in the Marines.
“I’m going to take this, and in two years we’re out. We are going to do this for two years and then we’re out. Then it was another two years. Then it was, ‘Hey we want you to go to Quantico.’ I never one day woke up and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to be a career man,'” said Nicholson.
During his distinguished 39-year career, Nicholson assumed multiple commands including four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I think service is a noble undertaking. It is not for everybody. The amount of young men and women who raised their hand after 9/11 and said, ‘If not me, who?’ I think was pretty exceptional,” said Nicholson.
Lt. Gens. John Wissler and Larry Nicholson salute Marines during the pass and review portion of the III Marine Expeditionary Force change of command ceremony at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 11, 2015. Wissler, who has been the III MEF commanding general for the past two years, relinquished his command to Nicholson. Wissler is a native of Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Nicholson is a native of Toronto. (Courtesy of the Department of Defense) 
Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson meets with President Obama at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. (WATE Staff) 
Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson shakes hands with President Obama at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. (WATE Staff) 
Larry Nicholson and his wife in Nov. 1980. (WATE Staff) 
Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan commanding general, speaks to Marine Aircraft Group-40 Marines, stationed at Kandahar Air Field, Kandahar Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, June 26. Nicholson toured southern Afghanistan speaking to his troops about upcoming operations and each individual Marine’s impact on the mission. “You are going to be part of something special, part of Marine Corps history,” said Nicholson. (Courtesy of the Department of Defense) 
Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson addresses Marines during the III Marine Expeditionary Force change of command ceremony at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 11, 2015. Wissler relinquished command to Nicholson, who was the 1st Marine Division commanding general prior to assuming command of III MEF. Nicholson is a native of Toronto. (Courtesy of the Department of Defense) 
Larry Nicholson and his sons. (WATE Staff) 
Col. Larry D. Nicholson thanks Staff Sgt. Michael J. Maschmeier for his performance on ukulele for the Regimental Combat Team 5 staff. Staff Sgt. Michael J. Maschmeier gets into the groove of the tunes he’s strumming on his ukulele. Fifteen ukuleles were donated to Col. Larry D. Nicholson, RCT-5’s commanding officer by ‘Ukes for Troops.’ Nicholson passed them to Marines from 1st Marine Division Band, assinged to the Regiment’s Headquarters Company. The ensemble played tunes including 1st Marine Division’s song ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and ‘Marines’ Hymn.’ (Courtesy of the Department of Defense) 
Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, commanding general, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, makes his way toward a CH-53D helicopter after meeting with Marine infantry leaders, May 26, at Forward Operating Base Delaram in Nimruz Province, Afghanistan. Nicholson visited the base to discuss the turnover of ground combat operations in the region. (Courtesy of the Department of Defense) 
Larry Nicholson lifting a weight with serving in the U.S. Marines Corps. (WATE Staff)
From the war zone in Afghanistan, he would lead daily press briefings for those at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
“I was never asked to, ‘Hey, be optimistic,’ there was none of that. There was the perception that we were handed scripts from on high. I never did,” said Nicholson.
During his time in the service, Nicholson had the privilege of commanding his son, Andrew. in Iraq and serving alongside his other son, Kevin, in Afghanistan.
“That was an unusual situation for me that we were there at the same time,” said Nicholson.
Nicholson led Marines through tough fighting in Afghanistan, he commanded the 1st Marine Division and served as Commanding General III Marine Expeditionary Force.
“I’m a great supporter of all Armed forces. But there is something absolutely something unique and special about being a United States Marines,” said Nicholson.
For retired Nicholson, he lives by the Marine motto SemperFi, always faithful.
