Longtime Aurora Scout Master surprised by former scouts

(AURORA, Ind.) – A Vietnam veteran and longtime Boy Scout leader recently received a big surprise from those he’s impacted. 

Nick Ullrich first joined the Aurora Boy Scout Troop 637 in 1958 and earned his Eagle Scout in 1963. 

A few years later, Ullrich was an Army Sergeant and squad leader for the 196th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam. 

During the Tet Offensive, he wrote a letter to his former Boy Scout leader back home in Aurora. 

“I thanked Buck Crontz for 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 he sustained and 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.

A few years later, Nick was told that the Aurora Boy Scout Troop 637 was under consideration to be closed. 

Nick had the opportunity to save the Troop and made a promise to his former Scout Master, Buck Krantz.

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

“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 has remained active with the Troop for the past half-century. 

Over the years, Nick has helped at least 44 young men earn their Eagle Scout. 

Surprise Party

Nick was invited to a party at the Aurora City Park Pavilion under false pretenses. 

“I walked in and everyone yelled “Surprise,” I told them they need to keep quiet because this party is for someone else who hasn’t arrived yet,” Nick laughed. 

Ullrich started to realize this was a party for him when he saw former Scouts that he hadn't seen in years. 

Former members of the Aurora Troop 637 came from all over the country to formally thank Nick for all he’s done. 

Some came as far away as Georgia and Washington.

“This was one of the greatest evenings I have had in many years. You get kind of emotional talking to some of those guys but it was such an incredible night,” Ullrich said. 

Nick has not only taught leadership and life skills over the past 50 years, he has shaped the lives of many young men that have been involved in the Troop. 

It’s a relationship that Ullrich says was certainly not one-sided. 

“I think I got more out of it than they did, as they’ve helped me in ways I don’t think they’ll ever understand, but I needed them as much as they needed me,” Ullrich said. 

He added, “I loved those kids and wanted to do as much as I could for every one of them.”