Army Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Pape

Died November 16, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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

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Ind. soldier killed in Afghanistan laid to rest

The Associated Press

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — An Army Ranger killed during combat in Afghanistan was laid to rest during a funeral service that drew about 200 mourners after a Patriot Guard motorcycle unit escorted his hearse through Fort Wayne.

The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne reported that during the Nov. 26 funeral, Staff Sgt. Kevin Pape’s battalion commander told mourners that Pape died “taking the fight to our enemies.” Lt. Col. Mike Foster said Pape was the squad leader during a Nov. 16 attack on the Taliban when he was killed.

He described Pape as a courageous and talented soldier who was admired by those he served with.

The 30-year-old Pape was on his third tour of Afghanistan and previously served three tours in Iraq. He was married and had a young daughter.

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Was on his 6th deployment, 3rd Afghanistan tour

The Associated Press

In the five years since Kevin Pape enlisted in the Army, the 30-year-old had been deployed to Iraq three times, and he was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.

An Army Ranger originally from Fort Wayne, Ind., Pape died Nov. 16 after he was wounded during a shootout with insurgents in Konar province, Afghanistan.

“Staff Sgt. Kevin Pape had two priorities in his life — his family and the Rangers he led,” Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, said in a statement. “Kevin 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.”

Kurilla added praise, saying, “By the manner in which he lived his life, Staff Sgt. Pape defined sacrifice, dedication and selfless service.”

Pape was a 1998 graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School. Classmates said he was a sharp student and athlete, according to WANE-TV.

“He just turned out to be an amazing person,” said Martin Carbaugh, who went to school with Pape from kindergarten until they graduated high school.

Pape is survived by his wife and their 3-year-old daughter. He was assigned to Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.