Courtesy Photo | 1st Sgt. Fouad Diallo conducts the Last Roll Call in honor of Staff Sgt. Nathaniel D....... read more read more
LAS VEGAS - The 17th Sustainment Brigade honored the passing of Staff Sgt. Nathaniel D. Poulopoulos with a memorial ceremony held at the Las Vegas Readiness Center, Dec. 7, 2019.
“I can tell you from personal experience that Nathan served our organization and our Soldiers with absolute honor and distinction,” said Col. Troy E. Armstrong as he delivered a memorial message during the ceremony.
Poulopoulos was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident on his way to work, Oct. 29, 2019 while traveling on north Highway 95. He was an officer for the Nevada Department of Corrections. According to reports, he struck a Nevada Department of Transportation vehicle on the shoulder and was pronounced dead on the scene. He was 28 years old. One other state worker was reported injured during the collision.
Poulopoulos served in the Nevada Army National Guard as a medic with the 17th Sustainment Brigade (SB) in Las Vegas, NV. He deployed with the 17th SB in 2016 to Kuwait as a behavioral health specialist, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. He also deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. He enlisted with the Nevada National Guard in 2008, shortly before graduating from Del Sol High School in Las Vegas in 2009.
During the ceremony Chaplain Capt. Troy Dandrea reflected on his time spent while deployed with Poulopoulos.
“Pops and I worked on the behavioral health component and we served many Soldiers through the thick of it. I remember so many days over there that I would have a really bad day and he would always check on me, with such sincerity. He would always be looking out for me as well. That’s the kind of soldier he was.”
“Without me ever knowing it, he had inspired the same ten-foot-tall and bullet proof courage that the rest of us seek to inspire in all our Soldiers. He was always the 68 Whiskey we wanted to be.” Said Sgt. Jonathan Barton, close friend and medic line leader of Poulopoulos.
Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Quintana shared his personal thoughts and experiences with the 17th SB during the service.
“I didn’t know much about Pops until we deployed to Kuwait with the 17th SB. There he would check on the wellbeing of Soldiers in brigade and around the area of operations. He was a Soldier who strengthened our formation, built camaraderie and trust, and genuinely graced our brigade with his presence.”
His list of awards include the 2 Meritorious Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, 2 oak leaf clusters the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with campaign star, and the Combat Action Badge.
Lt. Col. Ryan Swindell shared his thoughts as speaker during the memorial ceremony.
“Some of you knew him well from deployments. Some of you knew him from just passing by in the hall, but I can assure you that he made a mark. And he certainly made a mark with me; I miss him today.”
“I will miss him because he’s connected with everyone. He will truly be missed from all the ranks, and all the Soldiers.” 1st Sgt. Fouad Diallo reflected.
Fiancé Ashley A. Peabody and stepdaughter Esmae Richards attended the memorial service held by the 17th SB. Peabody was presented with Poulopoulos’s Meritorious Service Medal and Richards was given his Staff Sgt. rank that he was awarded posthumously.
“It is with a heavy heart and tremendous sorrow that we render him our final salute.” Quintana said.
The memorial ceremony concluded with Last Roll Call by Diallo, followed by Taps, and then a Benediction by Chaplain Lt. Col. Hal Woomer.
Sgt. Walter Lowell delivered a eulogy during the funeral held for Poulopoulos Dec. 2, 2019 at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
“It’s a popular idea that a person will surround themselves with people that will make them better. In Nathan’s case it goes farther. He surrounded himself with people whom he knew he could make a change for the better. That’s the kind of man he was.”
Many friends of Poulopoulos referred to him as a genuine storyteller. Whether it was a simple tale or some fantastic adventure, stories were a part of how he relayed meaning from situations in life.
Lowell continued, “Share his stories. Please share them with each other. For as long as a storyteller’s tales are spoken, they will live forever.”
| Date Taken: | 12.08.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2019 23:40 |
| Story ID: | 354726 |
| Location: | LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, US |
| Web Views: | 328 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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