This monument in the Salem Cemetery stood out to me so I decided to look it up.

Nigel Kenton Olsen

21 years old
Date of birth: Jan 20, 1989
Date of passing: Mar 4, 2010

Let the memory of Nigel be with us forever

United States Marine Lance Corporal Nigel Kenton Olsen of Orem, Utah was assigned to the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve; Camp Pendleton, Calif. Nigel was Killed In Action on March 4, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Nigel Olsen knew from a very young age that he would serve his country. He prepared for that dream all his life by spending his time immersed in the study of military history, military aircraft, warships, tanks and guns. His Sgt in Afghanistan would often stay up at night searching the Marine manual to come up with a question that he thought Nigel would not know the answer to, but was never successful. Nigel was always up for the next assignment and completed it with skill and a positive attitude. It’s been said that Nigel never complained, even when there was plenty to complain about. Nigel lived his life full of determination and integrity. In a speech given at a memorial held in Afghanistan, his Sgt said “if a vote were taken today, hands down, Nigel would win as the kindest man in the company”. On Jan. 20, Nigel should have turned 22 years old. One of his Marine brothers sent us this message of how Nigel celebrated his 21st birthday in Afghanistan….”We had been on watch for 24 hours and it was cold and windy and miserable. One of my duties was to get the morning chow set out for the Marines and it was just unbearable to work in those conditions. At about 0300 Olsen walked by still wearing his 40 lb pack and asked if he could help me. I asked him why he would help me with this when he should be getting some sleep since he had patrol in 2 hours. He replied, ‘Well, Sgt Louis today is my birthday. I don’t want to be sleeping it away…besides, what good is a birthday, if you don’t help your brothers”? In honor of the sacrifice of Nigel and Carlos Aragon, their families have established the “Carlos Aragon and Nigel Olsen Enduring Freedom Scholarship Fund” which provides a Mtn. View High School Senior with a scholarship to the college or university of their choice.