Nicholas M. Dickhut (1988-2012)

Nicholas M. "Nick" Dickhut, a former USCF member from Rochester, Minnesota, died April 30, 2012 from wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his U.S. Army unit with small arms fire in Zharay, Afghanistan. He was 23. Sgt. Dickhut was serving with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, which was based in Lewis-McChord, Washington, and was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. He had been considering the options of attending flight school in Arizona after military service or re-enlisting with the hope of attending jump school and being part of an airborne unit in Italy.

Sgt. Dickhut was born Dec. 31, 1988 in Burnsville, Minn. and grew up in Stewartville, Minn., graduating from high school there in 2007. He helped to form the school chess club, joining the USCF and competing for the first time as a 13-year-old in the junior high section of the 37th annual Minnesota Scholastic Championship in March 2002 in Eagan. He took part in subsequent state scholastic championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005. One of the major events he competed in was the 2005 Americinn National Finals in St. Paul, Minn.

He attended post-secondary classes at Rochester Community and Technical College while a junior and a senior at Stewartville High School. He had worked as a supervisor at Office Max before enlisting in the Army in 2008. He had maintained his USCF membership prior to his enlistment. He was a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th century Europe.

Sgt. Dickhut is survived by his wife, Aliesha Glidden, whom he had married on Oct. 28, 2011 in Rochester. He is also survived by his parents, Jacqueline and Randall Carson; two half-brothers, a stepbrother, two stepsisters, and his maternal grandparents. Burial with full military graveside honors was in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Rochester.

Obituary submitted by George Mirijanian
President, Massachusetts Chess Association

Nicholas M. Dickhut may you rest in peace.