Staff Sergeant Nicholas Ray Carnes, 25, of Ludlow, Kenton County, Kentucky, was killed on Sunday, 26 August 2007 by small arms fire during a firefight in the village of Lewanne Bazaar, Paktika Province, Afghanistan while on federal active duty. Carnes was a member of Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery in Carrollton and deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in March of 2007.

Carnes joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in March of 1999, at the age of 17. He graduated from Dayton High School in 2000, where he played football. His civilian occupation was Riverboat Captain for BB Riverboats in Newport. He was promoted to Sergeant in May of 2003. Carnes was less than a month away from celebrating his first wedding anniversary when he perished.

His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Action Badge.

In May 2009, the United States Postal Service facility located at 513 6th Avenue in Dayton, Kentucky, was named the “Staff Sergeant Nicholas Ray Carnes Post Office. Carnes is buried in Alexandria Cemetery in Alexandria, Campbell County.