Captain Kascsak . Obituary (2020)

Captain Nicholas Adam Kascsak, 30, USMC, husband of Stacey Woodruff, died Friday, November 20, 2020 at MUSC in Charleston, SC surrounded by family. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 from 4-6pm at Anderson Funeral Home. Funeral ceremony will be held at MCAS Beaufort Chapel on Wednesday December 2, 2020 at 12pm with interment following immediately at Beaufort National Cemetery. Captain Nicholas A. "Dadbod" Kascsak was born in West Boca, Florida on 10 August 1990. Following graduation from J P Taravella High School in 2008, Captain Kascsak's desire and call to service aptly began when he won a highly competitive nomination to attend the United States Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis, MD as a Midshipman. He graduated and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) on 1 May 2012. Nick then reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for Naval Flight Officer (NFO) training. He was designated an NFO on 26 June 2015 and ordered to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101), MCAS Miramar CA for training as a Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) in the F/A-18D in July 2015. Upon completion of training, Captain Kascsak reported to The Fighting Bengals of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA(AW)-224), MCAS Beaufort, SC in May 2016. During his eight short years of active duty service to his beloved country, Captain Kascsak served with proficiency and maturity, in the air and on the ground, beyond that of an officer of his rank and experience. He held several key ground jobs which positively impacted combat readiness as a Scheduling Officer, Powerline Officer in Charge in the Maintenance Department, and the Logistics and Embarkation Officer. In the F/A-18D weapon system, Captain Kascsak superbly excelled in his tradecraft and earned the designation of Two- and Four-Ship Combat Flight Leader, and was the squadron subject matter expert for air-to-surface weapons. He executed six deployments and detachments for training, from scorching deserts to the frigid shores of the Norwegian Sea, including a combat air tour in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) where he amassed over 250 combat flight hours, and a crucial forward combat readiness presence mission as part of the Marine Corps' Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to the Western Pacific area of responsibility. Captain Kascsak's personal awards include the Air Medal (with Strike Flight Numeral 4) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with one Gold Star). Captain Nicholas "Dadbod" Kascsak passed away peacefully in the arms of Stacey, his loving wife, and surrounded by family on 20 November 2020 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. He survived by his wife Stacey Woodruff; mother Ella Kascsak; father William Kenneth Sampson and his wife Peggy Sue Sampson; as well as half siblings, Kim Abritton, Meredith Danner, and Kenny Sampson; step-sisters Misty Herman and Amber Herman, and his beloved dog, Sky Puppy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the following organizations: Colorectal Cancer Alliance https://impact.ccalliance.org/give/266249/#!/donation/checkout T*A*P*S - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors https://secure2.convio.net/tapfs/site/Donation2?df_id=2800&2800.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&s_subsrc=TAPSHOME&_ga=2.105682439.541146743.1606263089-727333788.1606263089 The Wingman Foundation https://fundraise.wingmanfoundation.org/give/240018/#!/donation/checkout