Master Sgt. Randy Gillespie poured his heart out for the things he believed in, friends said at a memorial service at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Saturday.
“He just did what he did because it was the right thing to do,” said Richard Brown, a reverend at Gillespie’s church in Avondale, Ariz.
Gillespie, a Colorado Springs native, died July 9 from wounds he sustained when shot near Herat, Afghanistan. He was 44.
Gillespie was stationed out of Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., when he volunteered to train Afghan soldiers in the 16th deployment of his near-quarter-century military career.
Gillespie joined the Air Force in 1983. He was a fuels specialist in charge of attainment, storage and distribution for aircraft and ground requirements.
During his career, Gillespie served in Beirut and Baghdad, Iraq.
At the service Saturday, he was honored with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, which were presented to his family.
Friends said he was planning on retiring next year and moving back to Colorado with his wife and children.
No matter where he was, Gillespie found a way to help people, especially children.
“He had a real burden that children be cared for,” Brown said. “That was a big part of what his life was about.”
The family recently adopted a 6-year-old girl.
At home, he was often found under a big white bus, which he repaired for the church. His wife drove the bus to bring children from a local barrio to the church for services.
In Afghanistan, Gillespie helped rebuild three schools and assisted in getting clothing, shoes and school supplies donated to the children.
“It wasn’t something he was assigned to do,” Brown said. “It was something he wanted to do.”
The Afghan soldiers Gillespie was training felt so close to him that they called him brother and held their own memorial services for him in Afghanistan, said Lt. Col. Michael Washington, who was Gillespie’s commander.
“Randy was great to work with because he cared for people,” he said.
Washington said Gillespie’s wife, Lisa, told him that wherever her husband was stationed, he would find a way to get to know the people there and would find out what they needed.
If kids needed shoes, he would have her send over old pairs. Then he would leave the shoes where he knew the kids played.
For the soldiers he trained, Gillespie left a lasting impression.
“He always taught us to value what you have at that time,” Tech. Sgt. Ben Contreras said. “Always value what’s close to you.”
Rick Gillespie of Pueblo, Randy Gillespie’s older brother, spoke to him the day before his death.
“He felt like he was really making a difference,” he said. “We are very very proud of him. It’s because of men like my brother that we all have freedom.”
Gillespie believed in what he was doing, Brown said during the service.
“Randy would agree on being deployed to areas that were conflict-ridden,” Brown said, “because of his desire to help his fellow soldier and his fellow man.”
Gillespie is survived by his wife; sons Cory, 19, Cris, 17, and Ethan, 10; and a daughter, Amanda, 6.
Staff writer Simona Gallegos can be reached at 303-954-1555 or sgallegos@denverpost.com.
