Army Spc. Nathan B. Carse

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Nathan B. Carse, 32, of Harrod, Ohio

Spc Carse was assigned to 2nd Engineer Battalion, 176th Engineer Brigade, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.; died Feb. 8, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

A local soldier is killed in Afghanistan just two months before he was supposed to come home.

As Kristin Purdy sorts through the pictures of her brother, Spc. Nathan Carse, the memories come flooding back. "I think Nathan was the one that knocked my tooth out. When I was younger we were playing football in the house, and I don't know if he pushed me or if I tripped or something, but I fell and cracked my tooth on the floor," Purdy said.

She and her family are trying to remember all those happy times now. When Kristin answered the door Tuesday she got the news she hoped she'd never hear. Her brother was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

"He loves his friends, he loves his family, he loves his country, and he wanted to do something, make a difference, and he did," Purdy said.

"He died for you. You know, every military man and woman, they're out there fighting for our freedom day in day out. We think we have it rough here, but it's far worse over there," Purdy said.

Specialist Carse was never married and didn't have any kids, but his sister says his life revolved around his four young nephews. "The first thing he always asked about was his nephews, it was the first thing. He loved them very dearly," Purdy said.

Carse's family has spent the day trying to celebrate his life, thinking back on the good times. They hope everyone else does the same. "Me and my sister and my brother have very many memories, and they'll last for a lifetime because really was, he was amazing," Purdy said.

The Carse family thanks the community for all the support.

Carse was a Combat Engineer who came on active duty with the Army in February 2010. Before coming to WSMR, he completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He deployed to Afghanistan in September.

Carse was from Harrod in northwest Ohio. His sister, Kristin Purdy, tells The Lima News her brother earned a master's degree in engineering and was working in that field in Louisiana last year when he told the family he wanted to take his life in a "different route." Carse's father had served in the military, as a Green Beret. His father passed away last year.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal. He will be posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

His civilian education included a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences from Capital University in Bexley, Ohio, and a master's degree in civil engineering from Louisiana State University.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal. He will be posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

He is survived by his mom Janis Carse, his sister Kristin Purdy, and his brother in law who is currently deployed to Iraq.

Army Spc. Nathan B. Carse was killed in action on 2/8/11.