Nicholas M. Mangus

Nick was born on Sept. 24, 1960, in Bellefonte, PA, and was the middle of three boisterous boys. They were all in diapers at the same time, and have remained close to this day. Later, the three boys welcomed their baby sister, Julie, whom they adored and protected throughout her life. The family eventually moved to Berwyn Heights, MD where Nick grew up. Every summer was spent in their Allegheny National Forest home (6 generations) on Brown Run, outside of Warren, PA. That was Nick’s favorite place in the world, and where he learned to love the outdoors. It was an idyllic setting and a wondrous place to explore, learn and experience nature at its finest. Nick’s Mom, Louise, was a wonderful and patient teacher who taught her children about fun, fossils, animal tracks, birds and how to identify old growth forests. Nick’s Dad, John, taught the boys an amazing work ethic, how to fish, environmental respect and the value of scientific exploration.

Nick was a funny and active child who always seemed to have a black eye, bandage, bump or bruise in his school photos. He survived childhood and high school and set his sights on becoming a Maryland State trooper. Nick majored in Criminal Justice at Old Dominion University, where he met Margee, a nursing student whose dad was in the Army. Nick decided to give ROTC a try, earned a scholarship, and did exceptionally well. He and Margee married, and he graduated from ODU and was commissioned as an Army 2LT, Field Artillery Officer.

Nick and Margee moved 12 times in his 23-year Army career, including tours in Germany and Hawaii. They welcomed their sons, Nicholas in Texas, and Anthony in Germany, right before the start of the Gulf War. Nick commanded Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Field Artillery during Operation Desert Storm and brought every one of his soldiers home safely to their families. Nick was a soldier’s soldier: firm but fair, and many of his soldiers have stayed in touch with him, commenting on how much his leadership meant to them. “LTC Mangus exemplified the US Army core values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal courage both in and out of uniform, and imparted those values on everyone he met.” Working with soldiers and leading them was one of Nick’s most fulfilling passions in life.

Nick was working in the Pentagon on 9/11 and, in true Nick fashion, helped wherever he could. He didn’t leave until he had accounted for all of his coworkers, even soaking his beret in water to act as a makeshift dust mask as he checked the smoke- and dust-filled corridors for his personnel. The Pentagon was his last duty station; he retired in 2005 due to his diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis/Gulf War Syndrome.

After retirement, Nick stayed busy helping his sons reach the rank of Eagle Scout. He became a marching band and cross country Dad, and volunteered hundreds of hours at the boys’ high school and at a local blood drive center. He was immensely proud of his sons. Nicholas and Anthony both attended college at Penn State, and going to every home football game became the highlight of Nick’s week. Even as the disease progressed, he went to every game: snow, rain or shine. Nick and Margee bought an RV for tailgating, and travelled the country whenever they could. For a guy stuck in a wheelchair for the last 15 years of his life, Nick courageously packed a whole lot of living into those years! Nick proved that with the help and encouragement of his Catholic faith, his Bravo Bull soldiers, family, friends, and Margee, who faithfully cared for and supported him through it all, anything is possible. MS may have robbed him of his body, but his tenacity and spirit still shone through every day. He was an inspiration to us all, and we, his family, take solace in the fact that he won, and is free at last.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the National MS Society in honor of Nick. https://donate.nationalmssociety.org

Services to be held at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church and Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Final Resting Place: Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA 22201