Injured Maine soldier dies UM grad served in Afghanistan

A University of Maine graduate wounded Wednesday on a combat mission in Afghanistan died the next day after being airlifted to a U.S. Army medical facility in Germany for treatment.

Sgt. Nicholas Robertson, 27, who is listed as an Old Town resident by the U.S. Department of Defense, graduated from UMaine with a Bachelor of Arts degree and later joined the Army on May 26, 2005, in Portland.

Robertson was wounded while on a combat mission in the Zahn Khan District of Afghanistan and died as a result of his injuries on April 3 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany.

Robertson was outside his vehicle when he was shot, said Lt. Col. Tim Nye of the Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at Fort Bragg, N.C. Nye gave no other details about how Robertson was mortally wounded or who was responsible.

While receiving medical care in Germany, Robertson was awarded the Purple Heart, an honor given soldiers wounded in battle, Nye said.

An Airborne Ranger assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, Robertson was serving his second deployment to Afghanistan. His parents, David and Nancy Robertson, live in Venice, Fla. He has two brothers, Doug and Todd.

Nye said he wasn’t sure where funeral services would be held or where Robertson grew up and went to high school. That information should be released this week, he said.

According to Whitepages.com, Robertson was listed in Maine, Florida, Fort Bragg, Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas, and Chicago. At Goodfellow, Robertson was trained as a special operations cryptologic linguist for the Army, earning the title of senior voice interceptor, Nye said.

In his Army career, Robertson earned several military honors including an Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge and Parachutist Badge, Nye said.

“Sgt. Robertson gave his life in the service of his country,” Gov. John Baldacci said in a statement. “We owe him a tremendous debt. His sacrifice will be remembered.

“At this terrible time, we will keep Sgt. Robertson’s family and friends in our prayers,” he said. “All of Maine mourns the death of another brave soldier.”

U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and U.S. Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen issued similar statements.

Robertson’s death comes less than a week after the funeral of Pfc. Tyler Smith of Bethel.