Scott Nisely killed by small arms fire

The Iowa National Guard said Staff Sgt. Scott Nisely, 48, of Marshalltown, with the Iowa National Guard's 1st Battalion 133rd infantry, were in the Al Anbar province when he was killed on Sept. 30.

The attack occurred at about 2:15 p.m. local Iraq time, the Guard said in a news relesae. Nisely was part of a forward security element providing convoy security west of Baghdad, when insurgent forces attacked with small arms fire.

Nisely graduated from Syracuse, Neb., High School in 1976. He enlisted as an infantryman in Company C, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry in July 2002. Nisely mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom with the unit in September 2005 and arrived in Iraq in early May 2006.

He is survived by his wife, Geri; a son, Justin; and daughter, Sarah.

Col. David Elicerio of the 1st Battalion 133rd infantry told NewsChannel 8 in an interview Tuesday morning that the unit has started the grieving process and there will be a memorial on Thursday. He said they will return to their mission shortly after that.

Nisely worked as a mail carrier and delivered mail in the north part of town in this truck.

His co-workers said he was a happy-go-lucky guy who loved life.

"One of his favorite sayings was every day when you gave him a piece of mail he'd say, 'thank you very much your kindness' ... he'd always say it with a smile on his face. He always had a smile on his face," said co-worker Karen Hines.

Nisely served in Desert Storm with the Marines and after retiring decided to join the Iowa National Guard.

"He was a wonderful person. He had a duffel bag he carried with him. I can picture him as he's walking in with that in the morning. He also rode his bike to work a lot," said Marshalltown Post Office supervisor Kim Wright.

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