Army 1st Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst

Remember Our Heroes

Army 1st Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst, 25, of Onalaska, Wis.

1st Lt. Dewhirst was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died July 20, 2008 in the Qalandar District of the Khost Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his convoy came under attack by individuals using rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire.

Fort Campbell soldier killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — A 25-year-old Wisconsin soldier based at Fort Campbell has been killed in Afghanistan.

The military said in a statement that Army Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst of Onalaska was killed Sunday when his convoy was attacked with rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire in the Qalandar District of the Khost Province.

Dewhirst was an infantry officer assigned to the D Co., 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He joined the Army in May 2006 and arrived at Fort Campbell in June 2007.

Dewhirst is survived by his parents, Randy and Susan Dewhirst of Onalaska.

The soldier’s awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab and Special Operations Diver.

ONALASKA, Wis. — A 25-year-old soldier from Onalaska has been killed in Afghanistan, the U.S. Army reported Monday.

First Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst died Sunday of injuries received when his convoy came under small arms and grenade fire in the Khost Province, according to an Army announcement.
Dewhirst was deployed to Afghanistan this spring with the 101st Airborne Division of Fort Campbell, Ky.

He is the seventh service member from Wisconsin to die in Afghanistan; 89 have died in Iraq.


Dewhirst is survived by parents Randy and Susan Dewhirst of Onalaska. A family friend said Monday they had no comment.

An Eagle Scout, Dewhirst was a 2001 graduate of Onalaska High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society.

“He was an excellent leader,” said Jill Lyche Kulig, who was on the Onalaska student council with Dewhirst. “He cared about everyone.”

Tracy Miller, a childhood friend and neighbor, said Dewhirst liked being outdoors and was good-natured as a boy.

“He was always fun to be around,” she said. “He always had a smile on his face.”

After a year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., Dewhirst received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned in 2006. His military awards included the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

The Army will hold a memorial service in Afghanistan.

Army 1st Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst was killed in action on 7/20/08.