Army Spc. Nicholas P. Bernier

Died June 25, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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21, of East Kingston, N.H.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.; died June 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries suffered June 22 when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire in Kherwar, Afghanistan.

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Flags lowered to half-staff to honor NH soldier
The Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. — Gov. John Lynch has directed that flags be lowered to half-staff this weekend to honor a soldier from New Hampshire who died last month of wounds suffered in combat in Afghanistan.

The funeral for 21-year-old Nicholas Bernier of East Kingston is being held Saturday in Exeter.

Bernier was a combat medic with the 10th Mountain Division stationed in Fort Polk, La. Insurgents using small-arms fire attacked his unit in the Kharwar district of Afghanistan on June 22. Bernier died June 25 at a hospital in Germany.

Bernier was a 2007 graduate of Exeter High School, where he was a member of the wrestling and swim teams. He joined the U.S. Army in March 2008. He arrived at Fort Polk in April 2010 and deployed with his unit in October.