Traditions run deep in small-town America, and the Bauer family in Berthoud is no exception.
Staff. Sgt. Justin Bauer, who was killed in combat Satur -day in Baghdad, was a third -generation military man and a second-generation firefighter in Berthoud, a town of 3,000 north of Denver.
“We never closed his file out,” said Steve Charles, chief of the Berthoud Fire Protection District. “We always figured he would be back. It’s tragic.”
Bauer, 24, was a 2002 graduate of Berthoud High School, where he lettered in football and wrestling. After graduating, he joined the fire department and made his mark.
“He got his firefighter’s certification, his wildfire certification, his EMT certification, hazardous material certification,” Charles said. “He took every training course he could, like a sponge. He was very dedicated, very smart.
“He was studying at Aims Community College to get a degree in fire science. Justin and his wife stopped by the fire station right before he left for Iraq around Thanksgiving to say goodbye. He said he was going to make the department his career. We were going to ship some books over to him, but we never got the chance.”
Bauer’s father, Greg, joined the Berthoud firehouse in 1993 and worked his way up to assistant chief. Kirk Bauer — Justin’s uncle and Greg’s brother — is a lieutenant in the department. Neither Greg nor Kirk could be reached for comment.
Greg Bauer told the Greeley Tribune: “I couldn’t be a more fortunate father. He was such a good son and a good mentor to his two younger brothers.”
Bauer’s father, uncle and grandfather were all in the military, as was his mother, Connie Haddock, who served in the Navy.
“Justin always made people laugh and kept us all entertained,” his wife, Kari, told the Army. “Justin planned to move to Colorado when he got out of the Army and wanted to go back to the fire service and start a family.”
Bauer was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army Commendation Medal .
