Whereas, Sergeant Nickolas A. Mueller was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, on June 21, 1983, to Larry and Sharon Mueller, and died on October 26, 2009, in a helicopter crash while on active duty in the Badghis Province of northwestern Afghanistan; and

Whereas, Nickolas graduated from Little Chute High School in 2002, where he was a member of the football, wrestling, and track teams, played saxophone in the band, participated in choir and musicals, and was elected homecoming king by his classmates; and

Whereas, Nickolas joined the Army in June 2004, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father, and uncles who also served, attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, Virginia; and

Whereas, Nickolas served with the 252nd Aviation Battalion at Camp Humphries, South Korea, and later as a member of the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and a crew chief on a Chinook helicopter at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia; and

Whereas, Nickolas reenlisted in the Army twice and was on his third deployment to Afghanistan; and

Whereas, Nickolas served with distinction, earning numerous awards including the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Basic Aviation Badge, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, five Air Medals, and three Bronze Star Medals; and

Whereas, Nickolas was known by family and friends as an energetic, kind, generous, and gregarious person who deeply loved the country he called home; and

Whereas, Nickolas touched the lives of many people in his community, and was mourned by thousands at a memorial service in Little Chute on November 7, 2009; and

Whereas, Nickolas is survived by his parents, Larry and Sharon Mueller of Little Chute; his brother, John and his wife, Stefani; and his girlfriend, Heather Huckett, all of whom he loved dearly; and

Whereas, Nickolas was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on November 16, 2009, courageously served the people and the state of Wisconsin and the United States of America and made the ultimate sacrifice for his country to protect our freedom and way of life, while advancing the blessings of liberty and democracy to the Afghani people; now, therefore, be it