Army Spc. Nicholas P. Bernier

Died June 25, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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21, of East Kingston, N.H.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.; died June 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries suffered June 22 when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire in Kherwar, Afghanistan.

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Flags lowered to half-staff to honor NH soldier
The Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. — Gov. John Lynch has directed that flags be lowered to half-staff this weekend to honor a soldier from New Hampshire who died last month of wounds suffered in combat in Afghanistan.

The funeral for 21-year-old Nicholas Bernier of East Kingston is being held Saturday in Exeter.

Bernier was a combat medic with the 10th Mountain Division stationed in Fort Polk, La. Insurgents using small-arms fire attacked his unit in the Kharwar district of Afghanistan on June 22. Bernier died June 25 at a hospital in Germany.

Bernier was a 2007 graduate of Exeter High School, where he was a member of the wrestling and swim teams. He joined the U.S. Army in March 2008. He arrived at Fort Polk in April 2010 and deployed with his unit in October.

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NH honors 4 fallen soldiers
The Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. — Four fallen soldiers are being remembered at New Hampshire's second Medal of Honor ceremony.

The award was created to honor any New Hampshire citizen who has given his or her life while in the line of military duty since Nov. 4, 1979, the date when a group of militants took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding U.S. hostages in captivity for 444 days.

Gov. John Lynch, who signed the law creating the medal in 2007, awarded 54 medals during the first ceremony held last year. On Friday, he'll be joined by military officials and the families of four soldiers: Lance Cpl. Michael Geary of Derry, Spc. Nicholas Bernier of East Kingston, Capt. Michael Chinburg of Durham and Capt. Gary Dillon of Concord.