SSG Nunley didn’t waste any time either, deploying to Iraq just two months after completing basic training. The deployment lasted more than a year, thrusting SSG Nunley into action during the peak of the conflict.
“I definitely learned to mature quickly,” SSG Nunley said. “You can’t take the small things for granted, and you appreciate what life is like in the United States. It also took a toll – both mentally and physically – but you grow fast…I was there for 15 months, and during that time witnessed many things.”
One of those occurrences took place in January of 2008, when SSG Nunley’s position within an Iraqi police station came under heavy fire from multiple directions. SSG Nunley, who was resting when the attack began, immediately began defending the station without hesitation. He went on to successfully eliminate multiple members of the insurgent force while displaying steadfast marksmanship and courage that was critical in repelling the attack.
He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his efforts, but despite earning such a prestigious honor at a young age, SSG Nunley would prefer to talk about how he’s preparing the next generation of soldiers rather than his own achievements.
“I currently serve as a platoon sergeant at Fort Riley right now, where I’m in charge of 40 soldiers, and the only time I really think about stuff like that is when I’m trying to train my soldiers to be ready for similar situations in the future,” SSG Nunley said. “I don’t want my soldiers to be stuck in a situation like that where they don’t know how to overcome it. I use what happened as a tool to teach them, and not necessarily something that lifts me up above others.”
SSG Nunley was selected to represent the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley as they kick off their Big Red One Year of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO’s) campaign. The focus of this year-long initiative is to recognize the NCO’s commitment to service and their willingness to make sacrifices…
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