Marine Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff

Died September 28, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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28, of Davison, Mich., died Sept. 28 in Helmand province, Afghanistan while conducting combat operations. He was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

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Marine was dedicated to serving the military

The Associated Press

DAVISON, Mich. — A Marine from Michigan who was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan had a dedication to the military that went back to when he was a high school student, a former coach said.

Staff Sgt. Nicholas Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison died Sept. 28 in Helmand province along with Sgt. Christopher Diaz, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M., the Defense Department said. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Sprovtsoff graduated in 2001 from Davison High School, about 50 miles north of Detroit. His former high school tennis coach at the school, Walt White told, The Flint Journal that Sprovtsoff always talked about wanting to be a Marine.

“It doesn’t surprise me that he died in honor because he was such a wonderful human being,” White said. “He was a great kid.”

Sprovtsoff, a 10-year veteran of the Marines, is survived by his wife, Tasha, and a daughter, Lanie, who live near where he was stationed, the military said.

Sprovtsoff, who most recently served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician, completed his Marine basic training following his graduation from high school.

His mother, Sandee, told the newspaper in 2003 that she was impressed with her son’s commitment.

“That’s a lot for a 19-year-old,” she said at the time. “He thought he was doing the right thing and he’s really committed to his nation and the people who have trained him — we’re behind him 100 percent.”

Sprovtsoff had been deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Flags to be lowered for fallen Marine

The Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. — U.S. flags in Michigan will be lowered Oct. 14 in honor of a Marine who died in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Nicholas Sprovtsoff was killed last month during combat operations in Helmand province.

Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison, about 50 miles north of Detroit, had spent a decade in the Corps.

Sprovtsoff was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. He most recently served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician and had been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

He is survived by his wife, Tasha, and a daughter, Lanie.