Aurora Vietnam veteran celebrates 48th year as Boy Scout leader

Skills learned in Boy Scouts helped him in Vietnam

(AURORA, Ind.) – Aurora native Nick Ullrich became an Eagle Scout in 1963. 

He never expected that he would still be involved in the Scouts today. 

He also never dreamt that the skills learned as a boy scout would help him in combat.

Ullrich joined the Army in 1967 and quickly found himself in Vietnam where he served as a Sergeant and squad leader for the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, whose specialty was combat air assaults into landing zones with Huey helicopters. 

During the Tet Offensive, he wrote a letter to his former Boy Scout leader Buck Crontz. 

“I wrote to Buck and thanked him and said that I hopefully will make it home because of the things I learned in Scouting, like wilderness survival and merit badge. I really wasn’t sure if I would make it home at the time but I knew that if anything would help me it would be the things I learned from Buck,” Ullrich said. 

The lessons learned from the Boy Scouts did help Ullrich make it home, but not without some scars. 

Ullrich was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained from the Viet Cong. He was also the recipient of the Bronze Star with “V” for Valor for his heroism as well as the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. 

He was honorably discharged in 1969 and returned home, got married and went to work at I&M and the AEP Tanners Creek Power Plant.

In 1977, Nick heard that the Aurora Boy Scout Troop 637 was under consideration to close so he approached his old Scout Master Buck Crontz. 

“I said if you can put 20 years in as a scout master then I can put in 20 years in too,” Ullrich recalled. 

“We shook hands on it and at that moment I thought, wow, 20 years is a long time!” 

Ullrich not only completed 20 years but remains active in the Troop today, marking his 48th year as a Scout Leader. 

“Every time I think about retiring and giving this to someone else, some young fella comes along and I think to myself, I’d like to see how he turns out so I stick with it,” Ullrich said. 

He has overseen countless projects and trips and has helped 44 boys earn their Eagle Scout over the years. 

Nick recently got a big surprise when the City of Aurora awarded him with the first-ever Heart of Aurora Award a few weeks ago. The new award is given out quarterly to citizens who go above and beyond. 

Ullrich is a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Lary D. Fogle Chapter 71. He was one of the instrumental people who helped bring the Huey Helicopter Memorial to Lesko Park. 

Some may also know him as lead singer of the band Cops & Robbers which toured the United States.

Nick added that he recommends the Boy Scouts for both children as well as adults who would like to be involved instructing the youth.