Samuel Nutter

 

Sergeant Samuel Nutter was born on January 28, 1966 in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He was raised in Kentucky for the early part of his life before moving to New Jersey, where he attended high school at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge. While in high school, SGT Nutter enjoyed and participated in a wide range of sports including martial arts, football, track & field. After four successful seasons as a running back at Ridge High School, SGT Nutter was accepted at the US Military Academy at West Point on a football scholarship. He reported to football camp and after sustaining an injury, he was forced to leave West Point. He subsequently gained a bachelor's degree in business at the University of Miami, Ohio in 1988.

After graduating from Miami of Ohio, SGT Nutter entered the Navy and served as a demolition expert and a diver in the Explosive Ordinance Detonate (EOD) unit, attached to a Navy SEAL team. SGT Nutter attended and excelled in some of the most difficult schools the US Military offers, graduating from: EOD Apprentice Diver School, Scuba Diver School, Operations and Specialist “A” School. SGT Nutter possessed a skill set that was highly desired after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. He was activated to serve from the Naval Reserve and assigned to a SEAL team for two weeks. SGT Nutter's awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Battle “E” Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Expert Pistol, Expert Rifle, Navy Unit Commendation and National Defense Service Medal.

SGT Nutter’s call up for Naval duty after 9/11 and his love for the military prompted his decision to reenter the service as an Officer Candidate enlistment option and he was assigned to the Officer Candidate School at the 254th Regiment in Sea Girt, NJ. During SGT Nutter's enrollment in the OCS program, he was informed of his terminal illness. Notwithstanding his diagnosis, SGT Nutter decided to not withdraw from the program and instead committed to finishing Officer Candidate School.

SGT Nutter will always be remembered as being head and shoulders above the rest of his fellow officer candidates and was always the first one to lend a helping hand. Unfortunately, SGT Nutter passed away before finishing the program. SGT Nutter left behind a wife and children and touched the lives of many. He was a humble man that served his country and will always be remembered by the Officer Candidate Program of New Jersey and his name lives on through this nonprofit organization.