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Nick served with the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and served as a tank commander during Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1991. After six years of active duty service Nick was honorably discharged in 1992.
For the next two years he worked on a construction crew in San Diego, during which time he was promoted to crew chief. The Popaditch family relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana, when Nick took a job as a correctional officer with the Indiana Department of Corrections. Despite promotion to Officer in Charge of a housing unit, the Popaditch family missed Marine life, and in September of 1995 Nick reenlisted back into the Marine Corps.
Popaditch reported to 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division at 29 Palms, California, where he once again served as a tank commander. Based upon his proven performance in the Fleet Marine Force, Nick was assigned as a Drill Instructor at MCRD, San Diego from 1998 until his return to the 1st Marine Division in 2002.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003), Nick was assigned as a tank commander and Platoon Sergeant. Fighting at the "tip of the spear," Nick's unit was recognized worldwide as a symbol of American freedom when it helped topple the infamous Saddam Hussein statue in Firdos Square in April 2003. There, an AP photographer snapped a photograph of Nick in his tank's cupola smoking a cigar with the statue of Saddam looming in the background. The stunning image, which earned him the nickname "The Cigar Marine," appeared on the front pages of newspapers around the globe. Following his return stateside as a Gunnery Sergeant, Nick volunteered to return to battle in Iraq in 2004.
"Gunny Pop" was awarded the Silver Star for actions in combat that April during Operation Vigilant Resolve (the First Battle for Fallujah). During the same battle, "Gunny Pop" was wounded in action by a Rocket Propelled Grenade to the head. Blinded, he was medevaced to Germany and then stateside. At Balboa Naval Hospital, 8% of the vision in Nick's remaining left eye was restored by the hospital's tireless professionals. Nick was medically retired at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.Nick is an active advocate of veteran's issues. In addition to advising and consulting, he serves on the boards of multiple organizations advancing the care of our wounded and their families. Drawing upon his Drill Instructor background, "Gunny Pop" is finishing his California state teaching credential in social science at San Diego State University.
Nick is the author (with Mike Steere) of Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery (Savas Beatie LLC, 2008), which earned a coveted spot on the Commandant of the Marine Corps recommended professional reading list for all ranks, won The Military-Writers Book of the Year for 2009, and was a national book club selection. Nick speaks around this wonderful country to a wide variety of groups and businesses about his military career and on leadership and motivational issues.
Nick lives in Chula Vista with his wife April and their two sons, Richard and Nicholas, Jr.
P.O. Box 213116 • Chula Vista, CA 91921-3116
Media Relations - Joel Parker jparkerpr@sbcglobal.net (818) 990-2252
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| Nick Popaditch is a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant. Use of his military rank, job titles and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement from the Department of Defense or the United States Marine Corps. |
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