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ABOUT SERGEANT NUTTER
Samuel Nutter was born in Fort Thomas, Kentucky on January 28, 1966. Sam was raised in Kentucky and New Jersey. Sam enjoyed all sports, but the sports that he participated in were martial arts, football and track and field. Sam lettered in many sports while attending Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ. After 4 successful football seasons as a running back at Ridge High, Sam was accepted into the prestigious US Military Academy at West Point on a football scholarship. Sam reported to football camp his freshmen year at West Point, but after sustaining a foot injury, he needed to dis-enroll from West Point Military Academy. Sam decided to continue his education at University of Miami, Ohio, receiving his bachelor’s degree in business in 1988. After graduating from Miami of Ohio, Sam decided to enter the military, choosing the Navy this time.
Sam served in the Navy as a demolition expert and a diver in the EOD unit attached to a Navy SEAL team. Some of the schools Sam attended while in the Navy are known to be the most difficult schools the US Military offers. Sam is a graduate of EOD Apprentice Diver School, Scuba Diver School, Operations Specialist “A” School. Sam had such a rare skill that after 9-11-01, the US Navy called him up into service from the Naval Reserve, and assigned him to a SEAL team for two weeks following the terrorist attacks. Some of the decorations Sam Nutter has been awarded are Meritorious Service Medal, Battle “E” Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Expert Pistol, Expert Rifle, Navy Unit Commendation and National Defense Service Medal.
After 9-11-01, Sam decided to come back into the reserves due to his love of the military. He re-entered the service as an OCS enlistment option and was assigned to the OCS Company at The 254th Regiment in Sea Girt. It was here that Sam was informed of his terminal illness. Despite the news, Sam decided to stick with it and drive on. He was clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the officer candidates in his class, but was always the very first one to lend a helping hand. One TAC officer commented that he would have been the honor graduate hands down. Sam soon was traveling extensively to cancer specialists and receiving treatment for his illness and could no longer continue in the OCS program. However, he wanted to stay connected with the environment and people that he had grown to really enjoy. Sam decided to drill with the OCS Company as an assistant to the TAC staff and also to the other candidates. This, has been said by his family and friends to have, “bought him time on this earth” because it kept him doing something that he loved.
Sam always finished what he started, always did what he said he was going to do and never, ever complained about one thing. Despite being in obvious pain and suffering immensely, Sam never complained. And he never missed drill. He loved the uniform, the camaraderie, the ability to assist others, and he loved those Krispy Kreme Donuts! Sam is an inspiration to all of us at the OCS Company and will always be remembered. Sam is survived by his wife, Michelle Mallozzi-Nutter and his 3 daughters: Summer Ann, Samantha and Sarah. Please keep Sam and the Nutter family in your thoughts and prayers.
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