In Memoriam

LCpl. Nick Erdy

(reprinted from CentralOhio.com, May 21, 2005)

Lance Cpl. Nick Erdy of Clermont County died Wednesday during Operation Matador, a campaign to wipe out insurgents near the Syrian border, News 5 reported. The military said nine Marines were killed and 40 injured during the campaign.

Erdy's family said they didn't want to speak on camera, but they did say their grief is deep.

Erdy, 21, graduated from McNicholas High School in 2002 and played defensive back on the football team.

Before he went overseas in February, Erdy asked his girlfriend Ashley to marry him.

He thought of becoming a firefighter when he left the military.

"All of his friends are in a state of shock," said Nick Schmidt. "We don't know what to do for everyone. It's a great loss, not only for his family and friends but also for the McNicholas community."

Erdy joined the Marines two years ago.

Erdy is second McNicholas graduate killed in Iraq. Last year, Chuck Kiser was killed by a suicide bomber.

On Monday, a Fairfield High graduate, 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Taylor Prazynski, was killed fighting insurgents in Iraq.

A funeral for Prazynski with full military honors is set for Wednesday at Fairfield High.