Marine Sgt. Nicholas S. Nolte

Died November 24, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

---

25, of Falls City, Neb.; assigned to 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.; died Nov. 24 at the National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, Md., of injuries sustained Nov. 9 from enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

---

Nebraska Marine dies of Iraq injuries

Associated Press

FALLS CITY, Neb. — A Marine from Nebraska has died of injuries he received in Iraq on Nov. 8, his family reported.

Sgt. Nick Nolte, a native of Falls City, died Wednesday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., according to his aunt, Cindy Santo of Falls City.

Nolte, 25, was being treated for injuries received when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle near Baghdad. Four other soldiers also were injured.

Nolte was a 1998 graduate of Falls City Sacred Heart and enlisted in the Marines after high school. He re-enlisted following his original four-year commitment.

As a member of the Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1, Nolte guarded both President Clinton and President Bush.

Nolte is survived by his wife, Melina, and 3-year-old daughter, Alanna, of Cherry Point, N.C. He also is survived by his mother, Anita Nolte of Falls City.

A man who answered the phone at Anita Nolte’s house Friday morning said she was not ready to comment on her son’s death.

---

Funeral held for N.C.-based Marine

FALLS CITY, Neb. — About 500 people — including many veterans — filed into an auditorium Tuesday to honor a North Carolina-based Marine who died from injuries suffered when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle in Iraq.

Sgt. Nick Nolte, 25, died Nov. 24 at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., from injuries he received Nov. 9.

Speaking at the funeral, the Rev. Robert Roh described Nolte as a hero who sacrificed his life while serving his country.

“We honor all who serve, who, like Nick, made a choice to put themselves in harm’s way to defend us, our children, families, nation, our freedom and way of life,” Roh said.

At least 1,278 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003.

But with the death of Nolte, “the war comes home and wears our address. Casualty becomes a name; the war comes home to Falls City,” Roh said.

Roh urged those attending the funeral to pray for Nolte’s family, fellow service members and the Iraqi people.

Following the service, people waving flags lined the streets as Nolte’s funeral procession made its way out of the town toward Maple Cemetery in Salem, where he was buried.

Nolte was a member of the 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, part of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.

As a member of the Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1, Nolte guarded both President Clinton and President Bush.

He enlisted in the Marines after graduating from Falls City Sacred Heart in 1998 and re-enlisted following his original four-year commitment.

Nolte is survived by his wife, Melina, and their 3-year-old daughter, Alanna, of Cherry Point, N.C. He also is survived by his mother, Anita Nolte of Falls City and sister, Jessica Nolte of Omaha.

— Associated Press