Kevin M. Witte killed by I.E.D.

Another husband, father, son, and soldier has given the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Iraq. 27 year old Staff Sergeant Kevin Witte died Friday when his vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device while on patrol in Baghdad. Witte grew up in the western Minnesota town of Beardsley.

With yellow ribbons tied around almost every lamp-post along Main Street in Beardsley, it's clear this Minnesota town supports the troops...that's why news of the death of one of their own, 27 year old Kevin Witte, is especially tough.

Witte's high school friend Chris Walters says, "He was the true definition of a friend."

Chris Walters was one of Witte's best friends at Clinton, Graceville, Beardsley High School, where a ribbon honoring the 27 year old was on display today.

Walters says, "He loved life, he was always the one guy that was always smiling, always looked at the positive side of everything and no matter what was going on he would find the bright side of it."

Witte graduated from high school in 1997 and shortly after that time he joined the military.

Walters says, "The Army was his life...last time he was home he was talking about how much he loved being in the Army and that's why he wanted to re-enlist because it was the best thing for him he said."

Witte was stationed with the Army's First Armored Division in Germany and was serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom when he was killed. Walters says his friend would come back to visit Minnesota once or twice a year...but now the hometown where he once lived, and visited, is trying to cope with Witte's loss.

Walters says, "You hear about it all the time but until it's actually someone you know personally it doesn't really sink in...it still really hasn't sunk in."

Witte leaves behind a wife and a young son...he is the 45th Minnesota soldier to die in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

From KLTM