Fallen soldier 'born to serve,' a firefighter at 14

BERTHOUD - There was no rule against 14-year-olds taking the firefighting test, mostly because no one that young had ever asked. But Justin Bauer had big plans.

Army Staff Sgt. Bauer was killed in Iraq on Saturday. At 24, he had already spent a decade serving and protecting others.

Bauer, whose father Greg was an assistant fire chief in the Berthoud Fire Protection District, passed the rigorous Firefighting 1 course before he was old enough to drive.

"A lot of people that are grownups don't pass it," said fellow firefighter Scott Lindschmidt.

"It just tells you a lot about Justin," said Lindschmidt. "He was just born to serve."

Firefighters gathering at the station Tuesday shared similar recollections of the man who grew up rapidly before their eyes.

"He was determined," said Dave Hansjosten, a veteran firefighter.

"The community loved him," Hansjosten said with a pause, "just 24."

Deb Graves, an administrative assistant at the fire hall, remembered his "wonderful hugs" and choked up recalling the time three months ago when Bauer, home on leave, stopped by to introduce his new bride.

"I want him to be remembered," said firefighter Nico Romero. "All he wanted to do was serve people."

Bauer, a football standout at Berthoud High, was set on a career as a professional firefighter, like his father and uncle.

He pivoted seamlessly, said Romero, to a different avenue of service also deeply ingrained in the family tradition, the military.

Bauer's father and uncle both served. His grandfather served in the 82nd Airborne, Bauer's division, during the conflict in Korea.

"He respected his dad a great deal," said Lindschmidt.

Bauer was on his second combat tour at the time of his death. His commanding officer called him an "exceptional leader."

"Justin had a natural instinct to protect who and what he cared about," said administrative assistant Chloe McKinley. "He put others before himself all the time."

McKinley said it was no secret Bauer was ready to come home, to pursue his original passion, firefighting.

"I would have hired him the day he got out," said Lindschmidt, "because he was just that good."

His uncle, Kirk Bauer, an officer in the department, was anxious to welcome his nephew back to the "family business".

He called his nephew a "warrior" and a friend.

"I was counting the days down to see him back here once again to ride on the rig," said Kirk Bauer. "I was counting those days."

Bauer's body will be brought to Berthoud at the end of the week.

Plans are being made for Bauer's casket to be placed on a fire truck for the ride through the streets of his hometown.