KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A 20-year-old Kansas City Marine was killed in combat while overseas in Afghanistan.
Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand died on Nov. 22 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
As much as Nick enjoyed the stoic stature of being a Marine, he sure loved to laugh too.
"Nick was always full of life we made jokes about everything," said his mom Dawn Hand.
Nick had nine siblings. At 17 years old he decided on a career with the Marines, graduating Oak Park High School early to have his mom co-sign for his enlistment.
"No mom wants to send their child off to war," Dawn said.
But Nick deployed to Iraq in April of last year. His seven month tour ended safely. He spent the holidays with his big family. Then Oct. 17, 2009 the baby faced 20-year-old, already a veteran, deployed again this time to Afghanistan.
"More hostile -- sometimes a mom just knows."
On Sunday, Marine Chaplains pulled up in front of their northland home.
"This is the worst fear you have not something you think about daily because you don't want to," Nick’s father Don Hand said.
Now, it's all his mom can think about. She talked to her son a few days ago. She reminded him of her only request.
"Promise me you’re coming home,” she told him, “’I promise Mom, I love you’."
Now an American flag flies at half staff symbolizing a soldier who died and a future cut short.
"It's tough to think he hasn't even lived his life and he gave it up for the country," said his father.
