Army Spc. Allen Nolan

Died September 30, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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38, of Marietta, Ohio; assigned to the 660th Transportation Company, Army Reserve, Zanesville, Ohio; died Sept. 30 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, of injuries sustained Sept. 18 when his convoy vehicle struck an improvised explosive device and then came under small-arms fire in Balad, Iraq.

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Soldier dies 12 days after tanker attacked

Associated Press

MARIETTA, Ohio — A soldier who suffered severe burns in a missile attack in Iraq died Sept. 20 at a Texas hospital, his brother said.

Spc. Allen Nolan, a member of the Army Reserve’s 660th Transportation Company in Zanesville, was driving a fuel tanker on Sept. 18 north of Baghdad when the attack occurred, Larry Nolan said. The Department of Defense did not release any information about Nolan.

Nolan, 38, died at an Army medical center at Fort Sam Houston after an operation, his brother said. He had been flown to Germany, then Maryland, for treatment.

He had been in Iraq since February and was supposed to return home for two weeks’ leave on Sept. 20.

Nolan is survived by his wife, Gail, and five children, ranging in age from 3 to 12.

Larry Nolan described his brother as a strong family man who enjoyed hunting and fishing.

“He was a good brother and I feel sorry for his family,” he said. “We’re all going to miss him.”

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Soldier eulogized as mentor for younger troops

MARIETTA, Ohio — A soldier who died from injuries he suffered while in Iraq was remembered on Saturday as being a leader for younger troops.

Spc. Allen Nolan, a member of the Army Reserve’s 660th Transportation Company in Zanesville, was driving a fuel tanker on Sept. 18 north of Baghdad when his convoy came under a missile attack and small-arms fire.

Nolan, 38, suffered severe burns and died at an Army medical center at Fort Sam Houston on Sept. 30.

“Allen Nolan frequently volunteered for the most complex and difficult mission in Iraq,” Brig. Gen. Michael Beasley said after Nolan was buried in this southeast Ohio city. “He was an excellent mentor and trainer of younger soldiers.”

The unit has had three members killed in action and has been awarded 17 Purple Hearts.

Ray Whitmer III, pastor of Faith Bible Church in Williamstown, W.Va., said he told the 650 people at the church that “Allen Nolan often told people he was a father, husband, son and soldier, but foremost he was a Christian.”

The service was closed to the media at the family’s request.

A soldier from Nolan’s unit had his leave extended four days so he could attend the funeral.

“What I will miss most about Allen is that he was always there if you needed help or counsel,” said Spc. Robert Lovell, 36, of Holmes County.

Businesses along the way from the church to the Eastlawn Cemetery in Marietta displayed signs in support of the Nolan family, including one that read “God bless the Nolan family” and another that said, “Our prayers are with the Nolan family.”

Nolan had been Iraq since February and was supposed to return home for two weeks’ leave on Sept. 20.

He is survived by his wife, Gail, and five children, ages 3 to 12.

— Associated Press