Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Pape

Remember Our Heroes

Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Pape, 30, of Fort Wayne, Ind.

SSgt. Pape was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.; died Nov. 16, 2010 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.

An Army Ranger stationed at Hunter Army Airfield was killed in Afghanistan Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Pape, 30, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died in Konar province of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire, according to the Department of Defense.

Pape was a squad leader assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

According to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs office, 75th Ranger Regiment Commander Col. Michael E. Kurilla said Pape was leading troops in a firefight "against a large number of Taliban in some of the most rugged and extreme terrain of Afghanistan."

The Ranger, who enlisted in February 2005, was on his third deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He had also served three tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Kurilla said Pape's family and the Rangers he led were the most important aspects of his life.

The Ranger was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously.

Tracy Bailey, 75th Ranger Regiment spokesman, said funeral arrangements are pending.

The following information was obtained from the United States Army Special Operations Command News Service:

“Staff Sgt. Kevin Pape had two priorities in his life – his family and the Rangers he led,” said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander, 75th Ranger Regiment. “Keving was literally the lead Ranger in a heavy firefight against a large number of Taliban in some of the most rugged and extreme terrain in Afghanistan. By the manner in which he lived his life, Staff Sgt. Pape defined sacrifice, dedicated, and selfless service.”

Pape previously served on three deployments in Iraq, and this was his third deployment to Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Mike Foster, commander of 1st Ranger Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment said, “He is a hero to his family, the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Nation.”

The United State Army Special Operations Command News Service also released the following biography for Staff Sgt. Kevin Pape:

Pape was born February 5, 1980 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2005 from his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantryman.

Pape graduated from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was then assigned to Co. C, 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment in April 2006, where he served as a machine gunner, team leader and squad leader.

His awards and decorations include the Ranger tab, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He has also been awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Arrowhead, Iraq Campaign Medal with Arrowhead, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Staff Sgt. Pape is survived by his wife, Amelia Rose Pape; his daughter, Anneka Sue, both of Savannah; and his parents Marc and Cheryl Pape, of Fort Wayne.

Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Pape was killed in action on 11/16/10.