From the Desk of...

Vietnam Veteran Recognized
For Entrepreneurial Acumen

About Silver Star Contracting LLC A Closer Look - Majority owner and manager: Robert H. Nichol Sr., a 100 percent service-disabled Army veteran and Silver Star recipient
Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan
Founded: February 2008
Employees: 35
Services: The veteran-owned small business specializes in the renovation, upgrade and modification of commercial and government buildings, including several Veterans Administration facilities in Michigan.
Phone: (248) 723-6959

Robert H. Nichol Sr.

Military Background:

Nichol's military experience: U.S. Army staff sergeant and a Ranger in the 101st Airborne Division and 1st Infantry Division, serving in Vietnam. Military honors include the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Star medals

About the Silver Star award:

Awarded for "gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States." It is the third highest military award. Other recipients include John McCain, Oliver North, Charles During, David Hackworth. Wesley Clark, Max Cleland, James H. Doolittle, Alexander Haig, Tom Harmon, Tony Hillerman, Lyndon B. Johnson, John Kerry, Douglas MacArthur, George S. Patton, Pat Tillman and Chuck Yeager.

Quoting Bob Nichol:

"It isn’t just personal success but being successful enough to share with other veterans. That feeling of bond and brotherhood has stayed with me my whole life. They were difficult times but the experience has served me well. It has helped me to keep my focus and move forward."

By Carl Stoddard

During the war in Vietnam, Robert H. Nichol Sr. helped save the lives of other American soldiers when the fire base they were defending came under heavy enemy attack. For his heroic efforts, Nichol was awarded the Silver Star.

Today, Nichol is the majority owner and manager of Silver Star Contracting LLC, a Detroit, Michigan-based whose business is commercial construction and renovation. For his efforts in the business world, he was named Michigan Government Contractor of the Year for 2008.

The award will be presented 30 April 2009 at an event called Michigan Celebrates Small Business. It is considered the state's premier awards ceremony for entrepreneurs and small business leaders.

The Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards were created five years ago by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Edward Lowe Foundation and the Small Business Administration. This year's awards will be presented in Lansing by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Nichol plans to be there to collect his business award, but he and his company are not resting after that.

"Our goal is to be a high quality supplier and to grow our business annually" he said during a recent interview at his company's headquarters.

He's hoping the federal government initiatives to jump start the economy will provide opportunities for veteran owned businesses like his. Money for upgrades to hospitals, schools and government facilities – are projects his company would like to do.

It was business, not the military that was on Nichol's mind when he enrolled at Alma College in Alma, Michigan. He would go on to graduate from there with a bachelor's degree in business and economics. He then was hired by General Motors and began working for the automaker in Tonawanda, New York.

But he wasn't there long. The Vietnam War was going on. There was a military draft and Nichol was called into service. He still remembers the day, Nov. 18, 1968.

Basic training was at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Advance training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After volunteering to become a Ranger, he went to Ranger training at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Then he was shipped to Vietnam.

Initially, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, the Big Red One, in southern Vietnam. Then he was reassigned to the 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles, and found himself in the mountainous northern part of South Vietnam, up near the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, the dividing line between North and South Vietnam.

He was at Fire Base Henderson, some 16 miles south of the DMZ, when the base came under a furious assault at night by North Vietnamese army regulars. The enemy soldiers cut through the wire protecting the base, and -- armed with flame throwers -- ignited the base's gas supply, which in turn set the ammo dump on fire.

Responding to other soldiers' pleas for help, Nichol and a radio operator painstakingly worked their way around the exploding ammo dump and through enemy fire, came to the aid of the injured soldiers and radioed for help.

In all, "28 Americans were killed on that hill that day," he said. Nichol was the highest ranking soldier still standing by the time the smoke had cleared after the attack.

For his efforts, Nichol earned a Silver Star. Wounds in other enemy attacks before and after that would earn him two Purple Hearts.

After Vietnam, he attended the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management, earning a master's degree in business administration in 1971.

Returning to GM, and later at Delphi, the former Army staff sergeant managed assembly lines and machining operations, negotiated labor agreements and served as manager for plant personnel, strategic planning and aftermarket sales.

In 2008, he became 51 percent owner and manager of Silver Star Contracting. The remainder of the company is owned by Allied Building Services in Detroit. Nichol said he feels fortunate to have forged this business relationship. He said that you don’t often find such a perfect fit of people, personalities and shared goals. It is this synergy that has contributed to the company’s success.

"We all support the mission of sharing this success with other veterans," he said. "I'm certainly interested in helping get jobs for vets in our company or in helping to find more vets employment here in Michigan."

His advice to other veterans looking to become successful business owners?

First, he advises, find the nearest Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). The federally funded agency can help new business owners navigate through the red tape to become a government contractor. His local PTAC is in Livonia.

"It has been a big resource for us," Nichol says. "You will never find people more knowledgeable or available. It is remarkable how supportive they are. Second, VetBiz Central is a terrific resource. They are on top of all of the latest legislation pertaining to veterans and lobby on our behalf."

His other advice is the kind of straightforward talk you'd expect from a decorated former Army Ranger: "You just have to drive on. Don’t lose sight of the mission."

"It isn’t just personal success but being successful enough to share with other veterans. That feeling of bond and brotherhood has stayed with my whole life. They were difficult times but the experience has served me well. It has helped me to keep my focus and move forward."

Carl Stoddard
Maj. MIARNG (Ret.)

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