I woke here in KY yesterday morning to text messages and even one from my mother (who barely knows how to text).  My tiny hometown of 3,500 has seen their first military personnel KIA in nearly 40 years.  A rocket-propelled grenade hit Bub's vehicle while on his first patrol as sergeant.  He was promoted Tuesday.

We went to high school together, though I did not know him well due to the 3 year age difference.  However, his young bride of 2 years is much younger and went to school with my little brother.  His ex-wife was in my class.  And I can say that what I did know of "Bub" was that he was an extraordinary family man who always managed to make people laugh.  His crazy, youthful, rebellious antics was the foreground of what would become a handsome, strong, loving soldier.  He cherished his children (all under 6) and loved Lexi more than anything.  Serving his country & loving his family were the two most important things to him.

Lexi and her family headed to Dover to meet him upon his arrival home today.

The link provides the video to the local news broadcast.  The anchor is actually Lexi's sister-in-law & Bub's classmate.  I found it beautiful and felt compelled to share.  Thanks.

 

Cassie

Thanks.  As you can tell from the picture, Bub finally made it home.  He's IL bound on Friday.  Sunday is visitation and Monday morning is the community wide funeral at the high school.  Unfortunately, I'll be unable to attend.  But I hear that Georgetown has completely come together on this and is providing constant support for his kids and Lexi.  They're flying him to the county airport.  He'll make his way from one end to the other, passing through each community he lived in as a child.  My thoughts and prayers are with SGT. Nichols & his family continuously.

Thanks everyone.

 

Thanks!  Just a quick update because I found this incredible.

Lexi & Pailynn are back in Colorado (where they were stationed with Bub).  Lex went by the old house on Sunday.  Naturally, four months after his death, it's empty.  She walked through with a friend.  On the bathroom counter she found a cd case.  Inside were two cds.  One was labeled "Pictures" to which she knew what it had entailed.  The other was blank.  Seeing that it wouldn't play... she popped it into her computer.  That's when she found a letter that Bub had written to her before he was deployed.  I just think it was amazing.... God works in mysterious ways.