This is to solicit support for the family of a friend. He was a good friend and an outstanding soldier. This friend was killed in Afghanistan in December, leaving a family and a very young son. There is a young singer, the daughter of another who served with us, who has a song on i Tunes, where all of the proceeds will go to the family. Her name is Summer Collins and the song is Young. At 99 cents, it is a very easy way to help. If this is inappropriate, please let me know.

Charity for a Fallen Soldier
Jan 07, 2013


A good friend of ours here at Gamma Labs, a great soldier (Tyson Nick) retired after 24 years of service. He took a job for a private company contracting overseas, and approximately 60+ days after his retirement he was killed in Afghanistan, and in attempting to save another soldier’s life during an ambush. Had he still been in the service, he most likely would have been awarded the Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. During his time in service he was the recipient of numerous medals for valor, and he was doing what he had always done….only this time without the benefit to his family of being on active duty.

So, the family needing assistance as not only do they have one child in high school, and one in college, but also a toddler whose college cost will be double to triple in 16 years when he is ready to attend. A trust fund has been established called the Tyson Nick Memorial Trust at Regions Bank in Raleigh, and you can help very simply by listening too and purchasing a copy of a song dedicated to the Nick family. Further, please don’t let this stop with you, but take the time to spread the word and pass the message. It is the least we could do for Tyson and his family. He was a great soldier, and his family is now ours to guard as brothers in arms.

The single is called “Young”, and was produced as a tribute by Summer Collins, in Nashville immediately after hearing of Tyson’s death. Summer went to school with the two older Nick children. Please download a copy for yourself in memory of Tyson, and moreover, please pass this to people in the community you feel will help.

OK,dont have apple products.

How can I donate otherwise? Is there like a paypal link,something like that for the Bank?

Let me offer my condolences to you and to Tyson Nick's family. When confronted with the passing of a man of such evident merit, one is often reduced to the formulaic sentences because it can be hard to express the loss properly. May he rest in peace.

There is a memorial fund set up:

Regions Bank
Attn: Barbara K Varner
The Tyson Nick Memorial Trust
3700 Glenwood Ave Ste 200
Raleigh NC 27612

I will ask the family if they have anything like a paypal link or would like to set one up. Thanks.

Sadly this brings up a good point. IIRC, the number of contractors killed in this war is actually higher than the number of soldiers.