Andrew Cote Nicol

KENSINGTON - Sgt. Andrew Cote Nicol, 23, died Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010, in Afghanistan from wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

Sgt. Nicol was leading a team of several U.S. Army Rangers during a tactical mission near the town of Kandahar when the device detonated, killing him and another American soldier.

He was raised in Kensington and was a 2006 graduate of Exeter High School, where he excelled at wrestling, placing sixth in the state championships his junior year. He was also active with the Boy Scouts and motocross competitions.

He is survived by his parents, Roland and Patricia Nicol of Kensington; his siblings, Roland and Alaina Nicol of Kensington and Lauren Zabierek of Arlington, Va.; his grandfather, Pasquale Emiro of Haverhill, Mass.; his grandmother, Marianne Nicol of Amesbury, Mass.; and many aunts, uncles and cousins residing in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.

WE REMEMBER: He had been living in Fort Mitchell, Ala., while assigned to the 3rd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Sgt. Nicol entered the United States Army immediately after high school and completed basic training at Fort Benning. He successfully completed Airborne and Ranger school and became part of the elite Army Rangers. During his tenure with the Rangers he completed four deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan prior to his most recent tour in Afghanistan.

In 2009 Sgt. Nicol was awarded the Bronze Star with V device for Valor and heroism during a raid in Iraq in which his unit killed six insurgents including the number-two leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Due to his proficiency in combat, he rose to the position of team leader within the Rangers, leading up to 40 soldiers on tactical missions to hunt down enemy weapons caches and kill or capture enemy combatants threatening U.S. Forces and Afghan civilians. He was serving in this capacity when he died.

His awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

He was posthumously awarded his second Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Purple Heart.

His family will remember him as a dedicated and brave young man who gave his life for his country, family and fellow Rangers without regard for himself.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held Tuesday, Aug. 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. in Holy Family Parish Church, 2 School St., Amesbury.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. in Family Parish Church.

Burial will be in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, WWP National Processing Center, P.O. Box 758516 Topeka, KA 66675.

Arrangements are by the E.V. Jutras & Sons Funeral Home, 118 Friend St., Amesbury, MA 01913.

Visit evjutrasfh@comcast.net.