An Army Staff Sgt. from Loveland died Saturday when a roadside bomb went off near his vehicle in Iraq.
The Department of Defense on Monday identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. Justin L. Bauer, 24. Bauer was born and raised in Berthoud.
He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, N.C.
In a written statement, Bauer’s wife, Kari Bauer, said he was a model husband and was known for his compassion and for making people laugh.
“I knew from when I first met Justin that he had a desire to serve his country and be a paratrooper,” she said. “We supported him and prayed for him every day. Words cannot express how proud we are of him and he will always be our hero. He will always be in our hearts and minds and will never be forgotten.”
Bauer, who joined the Army in October 2004, was a decorated soldier. He received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal and several others.
“Staff Sgt. Bauer was an exceptional leader, twice tested in combat deployments with the battalion over the last two years,” Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman said in a statement.
Bauer, a 2002 graduate of Berthoud High School, was an avid football player and also wrestled.
Dan McGinn, head football coach at Berthoud, said Bauer was the consumate football player. He was a strong leader, a very hard worker and popular with the other players, he said.
Bauer, who played defensive end and on the offensive line, was captain of the team his senior year, McGinn said.
“Every time I ever saw him, he’d say, ‘Hey coach, how you doing?’ McGinn recalled. “He was just that type of kid.
“It’s terrible. Here’s a young man stricken even before the prime of his life. It’s a real tragedy.”
In addition to his wife, Bauer is survived by his father, Gregory Bauer of LaSalle; his mother, Connie Haddock of Loveland; and two younger brothers.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
