Monday, May 30, 2011

Army Pfc. Anthony M Nunn

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. Anthony M Nunn, 19, of Burnet, Texas

Pfc. Nunn was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.; died May 30, 2011 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

SPC Nunn graduated from Burnet High School in June 2010, where he was the bands' second chair trombone player. Nunn impressed teachers with his spirit and work ethic.

He joined the Army just after graduating high school. He arrived at Ft Campbell four months later, in October. He had only been in Afghanistan three weeks when he was killed.

Mike Lewis, band director at Burnet High School said Nunn showed wisdom and character beyond his years. "All the way through hight school, he was going to be a man of his word," Lewis said. "He said, 'I'm going to be someone people can count on,' and he really tried hard to do that."

Lewis suggested that Nunn join the Army band, but Nunn wanted to be where the fight was. "He really wanted to go infantry. He always had."

Lewis said Nunn, who spent many afternoons at the Lewis home and who was close friends with his son, was a tireless worker. "He would do anything I asked him to do," Lewis said. "He worked on our loading crew, which was one of those thankless jobs. He would always jump in if he saw somebody who needed help."

Lewis said Nunn was also fiercely protective of his younger brother Matt. "Anthony really felt like it was his responsibility to look out for him and make sure other kids didn't pick on him."

SPC Nunn had visited his old high school just a few weeks ago. He told us he was fixing to go to Afghanistan, Lewis said. "It just breaks my heart." Lewis said Nunn texted him on Friday, two days before he was killed, vowing to visit him the next time he was home.

School counselor and former teacher, Julie Collins, said, "He had a goodness about him. He was very honest. That was more important to him than telling you what you wanted to hear."

Spc Nunn's youth pastor, Mike Hickman, said Nunn was passionate, outgoing and caring. "He didn't want to just come to church and sit," said Hickman. "He was a Christian at church, and a Christian at school, and he was a Christian at home."

Hickman said before Nunn deployed to Afghanistan, they talked about the possibility of Nunn losing his life. "He was prepared for that 100 percent, and everyone knew that," said Hickman. "He said, 'For me to die for my country, to live is Christ and to die is gain.' That's what he believed."

"He always chose his words wisely," said SPC Matthew Woodall, who attended a service for Nunn in Afghanistan. "He never wanted to offend anyone. He always cared how others felt."

In his Facebook “About Me” section, SPC Nunn wrote:
i love God and the holy savior Jesus if you ever need help come and find me ill never turn down a hug and go team Jesus
never let true friends go cherish them forever
Jeremiah 29:11 is the most awesome quote
go army
i love being in the army
i hate trying to be a social person when i just like to sit back and listen
i like sleeping
i like running
i like to have shows of strength NEVER pass up a challenge
i like any physical activity
i will never let peer pressure get me again never
i love all my friends
if you ever need anything come find me ill listen
im a hardcore christian even if i dont know all the bible verses
love to sing to lord jesus and god
i would die for any of my friends in a heart beat

PFC Nunn's awards and decorations include:

National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon

PFC Nunn is survived by his mother, Christina; father, Ted; brother, Matthew; and sister, Savanna.

Army Pfc. Anthony M Nunn was killed in action on 5/30/11.

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