Spc. Nicholas "Nick" Mason, a 2002 honors graduate of King George High School and the son of Circuit Court Clerk Vic Mason, was one of two members of the 276th Engineer Battalion killed in the lunchtime attack Tuesday on the mess hall of Forward Operating Base Marez.
"The main thing was, he was proud to be in the Army, proud to do what he felt was right for himself and his country," Vic Mason said yesterday.
The identity of the Stafford resident was not released yesterday. But Gov. Mark Warner's office contacted Stafford officials and asked them to fly the flag at half staff in honor of someone from the county who had been killed in Iraq, county spokeswoman Cathy Riddle said.
Under Defense Department policy, names of military personnel killed aren't made public until 24 hours after families have been contacted, Army spokeswoman Maj. Elizabeth Robbins said.
The governor sent letters to both families yesterday, expressing his sorrow at their loss and the appreciation of all Virginians for the service of their loved ones, spokesman Kevin Hall said.
The 20-year-old Mason was originally with the 229th Engineer Battalion out of Fredericksburg but was reassigned last December when the 276th was mobilized for duty in Iraq, according to Virginia Army National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Chester Carter.
The 276th, with approximately 525 soldiers, is headquartered in Richmond. Mason was serving with Company C, based in West Point.
The 276th was scheduled to serve in Iraq for 18 months. Vic Mason said he understood his son's unit had been scheduled to leave in February and be home by March.
Nick Mason wrestled on his high school team for four years, serving as captain the last two. He also ran on the cross country team for three years.
He had been attending Virginia Tech on a full scholarship from the National Guard. He completed his freshman year in spring 2003 and had been on military leave since then, a university spokesman said.
Counselors and trained volunteers were at King George High yesterday to help students deal with their grief. Mason's only sibling--a 16-year-old sister, Carley Mason--is still a student there.
Assistant Principal John Carter said Nick Mason was an outstanding athlete and popular with students.
"The staff loved him. He was just a personable kid," Carter said.
"He was the type of person, if he had a goal or mission, he would get it done. If there was something that needed to be done, he would make sure it was completed."
One of Mason's goals was to become a volunteer firefighter. He squeezed more than 120 hours of firefighter training into his busy schedule to join King George's Company 1 in 2001.
Firefighter Steve Reedal said Mason was an enthusiastic worker who was always ready to respond to a call.
"He just really got into it. He was a really good guy, always a go-getter. He spent a lot of nights here," Reedal said.
Yesterday, firefighters there hung black drapes on the station's exterior to mourn their fallen colleague. The fire department on State Route 3 is serving as a collection site if anyone wants to donate flowers or food to the family, Reedal said. Firefighters will then deliver the items.
A candlelight vigil will be held in Mason's honor at 6:45 tonight at King George High School. Attendees should gather at the school's flagpole and bring their own candles.
King George wrestling coach Rick Buckwalter said Mason was a sharp student who would've finished college, but chose to serve in the military first.
"He died doing something he enjoyed doing," Buckwalter said. "So if there's a way to go, I believe Nick would've wanted it that way--that he died serving his country."
At least 12 people with ties to the Fredericksburg area have now died in Iraq, including three with ties to Stafford. Forty-three Guardsmen from the 229th Engineer Battalion were deployed to Iraq last year. They are split between Base Marez, where the attack occurred, and another base farther south.
As of yesterday, soldiers of the 276th were among 160,013 Army National Guard and Army Reserve members deployed, according to the Pentagon. The total number of Guard and Reserve members from all services currently mobilized is 186,366.
Sen. George Allen, R-Va., yesterday issued a statement expressing his sorrow over the deaths and his support for the families.
"It is so difficult for any of our families to hear about the loss of their brave loved ones, but it is especially heart-wrenching during this holiday season," Allen said. "All our patriots who lost their lives in this treacherous attack in Iraq will always be remembered in the hearts and minds of their families and friends, their communities, our Commonwealth and indeed, our nation."
