Classmates remember ‘Nate Dogg’

Franklin Pierce High School dedicates football game to Soldier who died of combat injuries in Afghanistan

Somer Breeze-Hanson / Northwest Guardian

TACOMA — It’s been a little more than a year since Nathan Wyrick left Joint Base Lewis-McChord for Fort Drum in New York. But he is still very much remembered in his home state.

The staff sergeant died from combat-related injuries in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province Oct. 10. Those who knew Wyrick best have rallied around his wife Rachel and four sons: Stephan, Garrett, Ethan and Tanner, to provide support for the Family and to honor a hero.

The Wyricks moved to Fort Drum in July 2010. Wyrick deployed to Afghanistan as a supply specialist with the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, in March. Wyrick graduated from Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma in 1996 where he was a football and track standout who was voted a “Sport-o-holic” in the yearbook. Also in the annual are photos of Wyrick in his No. 2 football jersey playing in a game against Fife his senior year.

Fifteen years later as Franklin Pierce prepared to host the same familiar foe Friday, the night was dedicated to Wyrick. Former classmates sold “Nate Dogg” hot dogs at a pre-game barbecue to raise money for the Family. Also sold were red T-shirts with Wyrick’s photo on the front and Wyrick, No. 11 on the back (a football number he wore before his senior year).

Phillip Hennings, a close friend of Wyrick’s, set up a Remembering Nathan Wyrick Facebook page. Before the game Friday night the page had about 600 friends. The following Monday the page had nearly 1,000 friends and counting.

“Everybody loved him,” Hennings said.

With the help of Dusty Bailey, who also grew up with Wyrick, Hennings and several other friends and classmates organized the events to honor the fallen Soldier Friday night. They also organized a get together the weekend following Wyrick’s passing to paint the bridge a block away from the high school. Half of the bridge is dedicated to Wyrick with photos and written messages.

Dan Eckroth went to school with Wyrick and like his classmate, enlisted in the Army. Now stationed in Germany, Eckroth flew 11 hours and arrived Friday morning to assist at the barbeque and attend the game that night. He returned to Germany Monday.

“It’s important to me with him being in the Army and me being in the Army,” Eckroth said.

While everyone in the group wore Wyrick’s No. 11 shirts, the No. 2 shirts were reserved for Rachel and the boys. Seven-year-old Tanner wore his shirt with his mother Friday night. Tanner understands how important his father is. The previous day he was on Lewis Main with his mother and passed the statue of a Soldier across from the Exchange.

“He pointed and said, ‘That’s my Daddy,’” Rachel said.

The Franklin Pierce coaching staff wore Wyrick T-shirts on the sideline, including head coach Howard Lutton. Lutton remembers the wide receiver with speed that helped Franklin Pierce to a 6-3 season and the track star who won the Shelton Invitational in the 400 meters.

But he remembers Wyrick more as the kid he was than the athlete. Lutton was proud of the efforts done to honor someone who meant so much to everyone. Even the Cardinals wore No. 11 on their helmets.

“I’m very proud of the community that we have and the culture we have with our team of fans and Family,” Lutton said. “It makes me glad that this is where I’m at. This is my community and those are my kids.”

Throughout the game containers were passed through the stands to raise donations and in the end more than $3,000 was raised for the Family. The amount of support received has been tremendous for Rachel who plans to move back to the area as soon as she can.

After Franklin Pierce won 40-28, Rachel and her group of supporters walked down to the field and listened while Staff Sgt. Alton Huckaby of the National Guard played Taps at the 50-yard line. Players, coaches, friends and Family circled around Lutton and Rachel as the Franklin Pierce coach of 33 years told Rachel of his memories of her husband and handed her Nathan’s old football jersey. Both Rachel and Wyrick’s parents, Carri Wyrick-Bergam and Vince Bergam, received game balls.

“I’m totally overwhelmed,” Rachel said. “It’s just amazing.”

As the crowd dispersed the Cardinals formed one last huddle before retiring to the locker room to say a final cheer: “One, two, three, Nate Dogg!”

To donate to the memorial fund you can do so through the “Remembering Nate Wyrick Foundation” at any Key Bank or US Bank.