Army Pfc. Madaras was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. Madaras died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol during combat operations in Baqubah. Madaras' patrol was attacked as it carried three wounded soldiers from another unit to the hospital from an earlier attack in Baghdad. Two IEDs exploded within Madaras' convoy line. Madaras maneuvered his Humvee into position behind another vehicle to protect the convoy. As he stepped out of his vehicle, a third IED exploded next to him, striking him with shrapnel. The Doc worked on him for about 10 minutes but there was nothing he could do. Nick graduated from Wilton High School in Wilton, Connecticut and enlisted in the Army shortly after graduation. After not a lot of success in high school, he felt the Army was the way to get his life on track. And he did. After a year in the Army he knew who he was and what he was and what he wanted to do with his life. He was sent to Iraq in February and was home on leave in late July before returning to Iraq on Aug 3. While home on leave, he was nursing a shrapnel wound in his hand, which had been sustained when a roadside bomb had hit the hummer he was riding in. He also told his family that he was looking forward to going to college and pursuing a medical career when he got out of the Army. While in Iraq, Nick would search for something to give the Iraqi kids when they came around – candy or something to show he cared. He wanted to let them know he was there to keep them safe. His target date to leave Iraq for the last time was Oct 24. Nick was remembered as someone who wouldn't cut corners no matter how appealing the prospect. For him, the easiest thing was the right thing to do. He was also a quiet, yet intense young man who was dedicated to his friends, family and soccer teammates. Nick had been awarded medals including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Army Pfc. Madaras was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. Madaras died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol during combat operations in Baqubah. Madaras' patrol was attacked as it carried three wounded soldiers from another unit to the hospital from an earlier attack in Baghdad. Two IEDs exploded within Madaras' convoy line. Madaras maneuvered his Humvee into position behind another vehicle to protect the convoy. As he stepped out of his vehicle, a third IED exploded next to him, striking him with shrapnel. The Doc worked on him for about 10 minutes but there was nothing he could do. Nick graduated from Wilton High School in Wilton, Connecticut and enlisted in the Army shortly after graduation. After not a lot of success in high school, he felt the Army was the way to get his life on track. And he did. After a year in the Army he knew who he was and what he was and what he wanted to do with his life. He was sent to Iraq in February and was home on leave in late July before returning to Iraq on Aug 3. While home on leave, he was nursing a shrapnel wound in his hand, which had been sustained when a roadside bomb had hit the hummer he was riding in. He also told his family that he was looking forward to going to college and pursuing a medical career when he got out of the Army. While in Iraq, Nick would search for something to give the Iraqi kids when they came around – candy or something to show he cared. He wanted to let them know he was there to keep them safe. His target date to leave Iraq for the last time was Oct 24. Nick was remembered as someone who wouldn't cut corners no matter how appealing the prospect. For him, the easiest thing was the right thing to do. He was also a quiet, yet intense young man who was dedicated to his friends, family and soccer teammates. Nick had been awarded medals including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
