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FALLEN WIS. SOLDIER HAS NEILLSVILLE ROOTS
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010 -- 12:13 pm
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
A fallen Wisconsin soldier has strong family ties to our area.
Flags at Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases and other facilities across the state will fly at half-staff Thursday (Dec. 9) in honor of U.S. Army Pfc. Jacob Gassen of Beaver Dam, Wis., who lost his life while serving his country in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Gassen’s uncle, John Gassen, has lived in the Neillsville area his entire life. He says his nephew was a frequent visitor during hunting season.
"He just enjoyed life. Very honest. A hardworking little rascal. If you needed a deerstand carried out there, he was out there pitching in," he remembers. "He was just and honest kid."
While all military deaths are tragic in their own way, Gassen’s death in Afghanistan was especially difficult to understand.
"He was a medic. They had an artillery demonstration. He and the other five guys were to walk out and check and see where the impact was. As they walked out, their Afghan bodyguard literally shot them in the back," Gassen says. "All six of them. AK-47."
John said the family couldn’t believe the news, especially seeing the military usually does such a good job protecting medics.
A large contingent of friends and family from Neillsville are traveling to Randolph tomorrow for the funeral and burial services.
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