Duane D Nicol served in WWII from 1943 to 1946. He served in both the Atlantic, aboard LST 994, and the Pacific, aboard LST 309. He participated in Operation Dragoon, the liberation of Southern France in August 1944.

He received the Good Conduct Ribbon, American Area Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon, WW II Victory Ribbon, and the European Middle East Area Ribbon.