SFC Jamie S. Nicholas

32, US Army

September 29 marks the passing of SFC Jamie S. Nicholas, 32 of Maysel WV. We honor and remember him and his mother Karen Nicholas of Clay WV.

Jamie enlisted in the Army as an Infantryman in August 1994, following in the footsteps of his father, who served 12 years in the Army.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. 

Following duty with 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006.

SFC Nicholas was assigned as a Weapons Sergeant to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was a senior weapons sergeant and had been in Afghanistan since May. It was his second deployment to the country.

Jamie was born Feb 12th 1976 and was killed on 29 September 2008 in Yakhchal, Helmand Province, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom when his vehicle struck an enemy Improvised Explosive Device.

“Jamie died doing what he wanted to do. He wasn’t concerned about going over there this time, but I had asked him if he felt we should be there,” said his mother, Karen Nicholas. “He was adamant,” she said. “He said if we are not there, they will be in America. That gives me comfort. We support America.” "I am very grateful there are people like him and the other soldiers with him who are willing to do these things so we can do what we want to do," she said. "Clay County is a very rural area, and he was serving so we can be able to live as we desire here," she said. "I'm very proud of what they do. I pray for our soldiers and their families every day."

This was Nicholas' second tour of Afghanistan. He spent seven months there in 2007, his mother said. "The special forces work with the Afghani army, training and helping them," she said. "They were out among the people. Basically, they were looking for the bad guys." He always knew how dangerous his job was, and so did his family. 

According to his mother Karen Nicholas Jamie as a jack of all trades with basic skills in mechanics, welding, computer programs, carpentry. All of which were used on his deployment. His artistic skills were used as he did the camouflage painting of their vehicles. 

 She also said He was a weapons Sargent that manned the 50 cal on the Humvee. Afghanis, the enemy, called him the “White Devil”. On his last mission he was the liaison between his team and the Afghanistan troops with them. He taught them how to fist bump when greeting them.

There was a large response from the community as news of Jamie's death has spread in his small tight knit community. Jamie was the first Clay County native to die in the Iraq conflict.

Jamie was the second of six children in his family. And he was not the only one to serve in the military. Brother Adam retired in July with 21 years of service. Brother Jesse still serving with 20 plus years of service. Two sisters in laws also served. 

He is survived by his wife, Michelle. Two stepdaughters. Sharise Troup and Anna Elliott. His stepson, Brenton Troup has since passed.

Let us remember SFC Jamie Nicholas, his mother, and his family.

And as always…

Say His Name

#neverforget

#SayTheirNames

#GoldStarMothers

#goldstarfamilies

#goldstar

#goldstarbridgeride

#rememberthefallen