MOORE HAVEN -- Leonard Nichols, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Feb. 23, was honored in the 2025 Chalo Nitka Parade as Sheriff for A Day.
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![MOORE HAVEN -- World War Ii veteran Leonard Nichols, 100, was "Sheriff for a Day" at the Chalo Nitka Festival on Saturday, March 1. [Photo by Katrina Elsken/Lake Okeechobee News]](/uploads/original/20250310-130439-53c-100 year old veteran.jpg)
MOORE HAVEN – World War II veteran Leonard Nichols was honored as Sheriff for the Day at the Chalo Nitka Festival in Moore Haven on March 1.
Nichols, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Feb. 23, 2025, joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, at the age of 17. He said his parents did not object to his enlistment. Their reaction? “Bye!”
Nichols said he chose the Navy over other branches of military service because he wanted a bed to sleep in. On a ship, he would be assigned a berth, while infantry soldiers could be sleeping on the ground, the then-teenager reasoned.
Nichols started his service as a Seaman Recruit and ended as a Seaman First Class.
He served on the USS St. Mihiel (AP-32) and the Liberty ship USS Luna (AKS-7). He was discharged in February 1946.
