Nolan once wrote home he wanted to make a career of the Army, but changed his mind after 10 of his friends died in battle. Except for the fighting, he wrote, Vietnam was a beautiful country. He was drafted into the Army in October 1966 after attending Lincoln Preparatory and West Philadelphia high schools. The specialist four served as a rifleman, an assistant gunner and a grenadier with Company B of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Nolan died on Sept. 13, 1968, at the age of 21. He was survived by his parents and three sisters