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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Services set for Marine

SCC student, ‘smart kid’ planned to be an officer

A U.S. Marine killed last week during a midair helicopter collision grew up primarily in the Spokane area and loved spending summer afternoons on Lake Coeur d’Alene, his uncle said Monday.

Lance Cpl. Nickoulas Elliott was the crew chief of a UH-1 Huey helicopter that collided Wednesday with an AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter during a training exercise, killing seven. Elliott’s uncle, Todd Walker, 52, of Coeur d’Alene, said it was one of the last training missions before Elliott and his unit were scheduled to ship out for the war in Afghanistan.

“He was doing what he wanted to do. He loved the military, the Marines,” Walker said. “He knew if you are flying a helicopter at 250 miles per hour at 50 feet off the ground, that’s a risk. It’s probably not the safest job in the world, but thank God there are kids like him willing to do it.”

Elliott, 21, split time living with his family in Colfax, Tekoa, Spokane and Arlington, Wash., Walker said. He started high school in the Western Washington community of Arlington but came to Spokane and attended Spokane Community College before he enlisted in the Marines.

Elliott planned to obtain a college degree after his four-year service commitment so that he could continue his service as an officer. He was a chess champion in middle school.

“He was a smart kid,” Walker said. “He liked playing the guitar, singing the blues and hunting and fishing. He spent a lot of time in the summers over on the lake. He enjoyed boating and tubing.”

Also killed in the crash Wednesday were Maj. Thomas A. Budrejko, 37, of Montville, Conn.; Capt. Michael M. Quin, 28, of Purcellville, Va.; Capt. Benjamin N. Cerniglia, 31, of Montgomery, Ala.; Sgt. Justin A. Everett, 33, of Clovis, Calif.; Lance Cpl. Corey A. Little, 25, of Marietta, Ga.; and Capt. Nathan W. Anderson, 32, of Amarillo, Texas.

Officials will hold a ceremony Friday for Elliott, a member of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, Walker said. A memorial for the family is scheduled March 10 at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.

Elliott’s girlfriend, from Southern California, whom he met while stationed at Camp Pendleton, plans to attend the service in Kent, Walker said.