On March 4th, 2025, the Manatee Board of County Commissioners paid a heartfelt tribute to the memory of Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto. The commissioners unanimously supported the designation of a section of U.S. 19, between Palm View Road and Terra Cia Road, in his honor. This was made possible through the adoption of Resolution R-25-020, which ensures the County’s backing for the designation and provides the necessary support for the State to place official roadway markers.
Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto tragically lost his life in a training accident at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on November 6th, 2019. At the time, Panipinto served as an infantryman with the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood. The unit had deployed to South Korea in July for a nine-month rotation.
Panipinto was operating a Bradley M2A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, designed to be highly maneuverable while providing infantry protection and firepower. The Bradley carries a three-person crew—a commander, gunner, and driver—and can transport six fully equipped soldiers. During a training exercise, the Bradley he was driving overturned. Unfortunately, Panipinto did not reach the hospital for two hours following the accident, succumbing to his injuries that same day. Later investigations revealed that he was not licensed or certified to operate the Bradley.
At the time of the incident, around 28,500 U.S. troops were stationed in South Korea, with most of them based at Camp Humphreys, located about 55 miles south of Seoul in the rural city of Pyeongtaek.
In a powerful gesture of remembrance, the Florida Legislature took action in their 2024 session to honor Specialist Panipinto’s sacrifice by designating a portion of U.S. 19 as the ‘Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto Memorial Highway.’ With the passing of this resolution, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will now be responsible for placing the official memorial markers along U.S. 19.
