Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 2002 Lucky Bag:

Nicolas Juron

Where do I start? Plebe football in the snow, “its Cleveland to Juron” sorry Dan. Lightweight conversion to real sport. Same schedule, sweet. Astro, they are all dorks!! Ahh St, I pulled S-duty. Orlando roommates, suck it Bud Light! Its 3AM, what is that noise? Psssss oh my God! Sure Pepe, we’ll let you take us to the O club. Trip…60DR, “Old Man River…” We were the highest ranking mids HAHA, pranking each other. Firstie year, club O, astro sucks! Steeling beer at dining out, they can’t put us all up.. Study hall, a necessity, not the too cool crew though. Thanks for doing all my homework, and getting me through, I definitely couldn’t have made it without a sidekick. Gonna be the best pilot out there, if you ever need a FO, gimmie a call. Next to Todd, my best friends… -BC St, is that the glaze? My diploma has your name under mine. Smartest redneck ever. Forever in debt for keeping B alive, but in trouble too. Don’t know a nicer person to copy homework from. Damn richers! Haiku’s! Whipped like no other. Gonna be living’ it up in Florida. I guess I’ll have to settle for #2. One of my closest friends. -TC Nick Butkus!!! Original member of the A-Team. Punching out the bush in Orlando after 8 Seconds. Meet with the good Captain after this. Should we join him? God, no. -1MC Mom, Dad, Mike, Jess, I love you, thanks for everything. 11/4-Allison, you’re my #1

Loss

Nick was lost on December 13, 2005 when the SH-60B Seahawk he was piloting crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Columbia. He was a part of an anti-narcotics operation, flying from USS DeWert (FFG 45).

Other Information

From the Travis Manion Foundation:

Nick was a very bright young man, a gifted athlete, student, and a ‘star’ in every sense of the word. He received a perfect score on his SAT, was a member of the National Eagle Scout Association, and earned a spot on the USA Rugby team. But his intention was always to make a career in the Navy. “Nick’s sacrifice will always be remembered by a grateful community, state, and nation,” Congressman Steny H. Hoyer said of the late lieutenant.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

He graduated from Great Mills High School in 1998 prior to going to the U.S. Naval Academy. While at Great Mills High School, Nicolas, “Nick”, was a member of the National Honor Society. He played varsity football, both his junior and senior years. As a senior, he was also a member of the wrestling team.

His parents were Douglas and Christine; brother Michael; and sister Jessica.

He has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

Remembrances

From Jared Smith ‘02, via email on May 10, 2017:

I knew Nick Juron at the Academy and after as we kept touch through All-Navy rugby. Nick was probably one of the smartest guys I knew as well as a fierce competitor both on and off the pitch. The last time we played rugby together was Fall of 2004. I think of Nick often and all of the friends and teammates that would have loved to play one more match with him on their team.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook; courtesy Tina Dial, Media Clerk at Great Mills High School

"Nicolas Juron is one of the naval aviators wearing their gleaming wings of gold at their designation ceremony held at the NAS Whiting Field Auditorium February 20, 2004." From the Pensacola News Journal on March 5, 2004.

Memorials

Nick is memorialized in the book In the Shadow of Greatness, a two-time Los Angeles Times Best Seller that was published in 2012.

In 2024 Nick was inducted into the Navy Rugby Hall of Fame.

Related Articles

Chris Snyder ‘00 was also lost in this crash.

Memorial Hall Error

Nick was a LTJG at the time of his death; this is what is on his memorial marker. Memorial Hall has LT.