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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 the second member of the Onalaska High School Class of 2001 to be killed in Afghanistan. Dewhirst's classmate Senior Airman Adam Servais was killed Aug. 19, 2006.
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 was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council at OHS.
“He was an excellent leader,” said Jill Lyche Kulig, who was on the Student Council with Dewhirst. “He cared about everyone.”
Tracy Miller, a childhood friend and neighbor, said Dewhirst liked being outdoors and was a good-natured 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.
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