Army 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers

Remember Our Heroes

Army 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers, 26, of Hastings, Neb.

Lt. Gaspers was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died April 23 in Sadah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his location. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Kenneth E. Locker Jr., Staff Sgt. William C. Moore, Sgt. Randell T. Marshall, Sgt. Brice A. Pearson, Sgt. Michael L. Vaughan, Spc. Jerry R. King, Spc. Michael J. Rodriguez and Pfc. Garrett C. Knoll.

Hastings native killed in Iraq

By Josh Funk
The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — A Hastings, Neb., man died in Iraq this week while serving in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, officials at his alma mater confirmed April 24.

Lt. Kevin Gaspers, 26, died April 23, said Marie Butler, principal of St. Cecilia Catholic High School.

Officials at the school learned about Gaspers’ death this morning after his family asked that a priest be sent to their house. One of Gaspers’ sisters said April 23 that family members did not want to be interviewed.

Pam Gaspers told the Hastings Tribune newspaper that she and her husband, John, were notified April 24 of Kevin’s death April 23.

“I’m just numb right now,” she said.

Saint Cecilia’s 203 high school students and 174 middle school students remembered Gaspers on April 24 at their daily Mass.

“We offered our prayers up for the Kevin and the family,” Butler said.

Gaspers played football and wrestled for St. Cecilia, and his football coach, Carl Tesmer, remembers his perseverance and dedication.

Tesmer said Gaspers was a tough, hard-nosed linebacker who probably didn’t weigh 145 pounds when he started playing. Gaspers lifted weights to become stronger, and he improved.

One of the things Tesmer remembers most about Gaspers is what a gentleman he was.

“America’s just lost one of its finest citizens,” said Tesmer, who corresponded regularly with Gaspers while he was in Iraq.

Gaspers was just back in Hastings a few weeks ago for a visit around Easter, Tesmer said.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A 26-year-old Hastings man died in Iraq Monday while serving in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, family members said Tuesday.

Katie Gaspers of Omaha struggled Tuesday evening to talk about her older brother, First Lt. Kevin Gaspers, who she said was "probably the best person ever."

Family members say they were told Tuesday morning that Gaspers died when a suicide bomber attacked his base and the roof of a building collapsed. The military had not confirmed Gaspers' death as of Tuesday evening.

Katie Gaspers said the family couldn't yet confirm whether he was one of nine soldiers killed in a Monday suicide truck bombing in Iraq, the single deadliest attack for the 82nd Airborne Division in nearly 40 years.

At Gaspers' alma mater, St. Cecilia Catholic High School, 203 high school students and 174 middle school students remembered Gaspers Tuesday at their daily Mass.

"We offered our prayers up for the Kevin and the family," said principal Marie Butler.

Officials at the school learned about Gaspers' death Tuesday morning after his family asked that a priest be sent to their house.

Gaspers played football and wrestled for St. Cecelia before he graduated in 2000, and went on to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and participate in the ROTC program.

His football coach, Carl Tesmer, remembers his perseverance, dedication and manners.

Tesmer said Gaspers was a tough, hard-nosed linebacker who probably didn't weigh 145 pounds when he started playing. Gaspers lifted weights to become stronger, and he improved.

"You always remember the kids who give you everything they've got," Tesmer said, and Gaspers was one of those.

One of the things Tesmer remembers most about Gaspers is what a gentleman he was.

"America's just lost one of its finest citizens," said Tesmer, who corresponded regularly with Gaspers while he was in Iraq.

Gaspers was just back in Hastings a few weeks ago for a visit around Easter, Tesmer said.

"The military was what he wanted," Tesmer said. "He was proud to be part of it and what he was doing."

Gaspers had been stationed in Fort Bragg, N.C., before he was deployed to Iraq last August.

Gaspers is the 42nd U.S. service member with Nebraska connections killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since the beginning of military operations following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. And Tesmer said Gaspers is the first St. Cecelia graduate to be killed in the Iraq war.

"It's a tough day with lots of tears," Tesmer said Tuesday.

Gaspers is survived by his parents, Pam and John Gaspers, and two sisters, 23-year-old Katie and 15-year-old Audrey.

Army 1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers was killed in action on 4/23/07.