Author: Mike Matzinger
From earning his Eagle Scout rank in 1963…
To fighting in Vietnam just a few years later…
To dedicating nearly five decades to mentoring young Scouts in Aurora, Indiana…
Nick Ullrich is the true definition of a hometown hero.
Nick, a proud veteran of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, credits his Scouting experience with helping him survive combat. In fact, during the Tet Offensive, he wrote a letter to his former Scout leader, Buck Crontz, thanking him for the wilderness survival skills that were keeping him alive.
Wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with “V” for Valor, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Nick returned home and kept serving — not on the battlefield, but in his own community.
In 1977, when Troop 637 faced closure, he stepped up once again, promising Buck he’d serve 20 years as a leader. That 20 years has turned into 48 years (and counting!), during which he’s helped 44 boys earn their Eagle Scout.
Nick’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. He was recently honored with the first-ever Heart of Aurora Award, recognizing his decades of dedication to local youth and veterans.
Thank you, Nick, for your unwavering service, your heart for this community, and the legacy you continue to build every single day.
https://www.812noww.com/post/aurora-vietnam-veteran-celebrates-48th-year-as-boy-scout-leader