"Friends remember local soldier killed in Afghanistan"
The flag at Millcreek American Legion Post 773 is at half staff for the man some thought might be its commander one day.
Staff Sgt. Kenneth R VanGiesen, 30, of Millcreek Township was an active member of the local post. He was killed Monday in Afghanistan when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy outside of Bagram.
Post members got word of VanGiesen's death early Tuesday and immediately lowered the flag at the post home at 4109 W. 12th St., in his honor. The post color guard will escort VanGiesen's body to Kane, the sergeant's hometown, later this week, post Commander Ben Suchocki said.
"It is so sad," Suchocki said. "Ken was the future of this post. He was up and coming. I was hoping someday he'd be commander." VanGiesen's close friend, Adam Kernohan, doesn't doubt that. VanGiesen had made friends at the post and in Erie since moving to the area about six years ago, Kernohan said. "Ken was just a good guy. He was loved by everybody." Kernohan said. "He didn't have an enemy at all.
Van Giesen joined the Pennsylvania National Guard after his graduation from Kane Area High School in 1999 and had served four tours of active duty: in Germany, in Iraq with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and later with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team and most recently in Afghanistan, a Pennsylvania National Guard spokesman said.
Two more PA National Guard soldiers died along with VanGiesen in Monday's explosion. Funeral services for VanGiesen were incomplete Wednesday.
Aunt Lois sent this article to the family. "Thought you might be interested in this article that made the front page today. The Kane branch of the Van Giesens are not on our family tree but I remember going there to visit them once, stopping for pictures at the Kinzua Bridge."
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