Photo by Eleena Fikhman Retired Lt. Gen. John Cushman pins the Silver Star on retired Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson Oct. 28, as Brig. Gen. Karl R. Horst, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and Military District of Washington looks on.

In a ceremony hosted by Brig. Gen. Karl R. Horst, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and Military District of Washington, at Fort Myer’s Conmy Hall, Nicholson received the Silver Star in front of an audience of more than 100 Family members, friends and classmates from West Point.

The Silver Star is awarded to a person ‘‘who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.”

On Dec. 27, 1963, then Maj. Nicholson was serving as an advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Guard and Self-Defense Force. During an eight-hour battle, their force was reduced from 200 to 40, and Nicholson directed friendly fire and mortar fire to help evacuate 13 wounded Soldiers through enemy territory.

He was officially awarded the Silver Star by then Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and President Barack Obama in July.

While the focus of the ceremony was on Nicholson’s achievements in the past, he made sure to mention the work that Soldiers are doing in today’s Army, work that he is proud of.

‘‘We have an Army today that not only consists of these splendid Soldiers you see in front of you, but of Soldiers around the world doing our country’s bidding, doing what their country asked them to do,” Nicholson said. ‘‘Doing it better than we did, and doing it better than any Army in the world.”