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Published November 09, 2009, 03:20 PM

Family remembers North Dakota native who was killed at Fort Hood

West Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - He is being remembered for being a kind man, a dedicated father, and husband. The Army’s kind of solider who comes along so rarely. Michelle Vannote of West Fargo tonight is mourning the death of her brother John. He was killed at Fort Hood last week.

By: Kevin Wallevand, WDAY

  • John Gaffaney
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    He is being remembered for being a kind man, a dedicated father, and husband. The Army’s kind of solider who comes along so rarely. Michelle Vannote of West Fargo tonight is mourning the death of her brother john. He was killed at Fort Hood last week.

West Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - He is being remembered for being a kind man, a dedicated father, and husband. The Army’s kind of solider who comes along so rarely. Michelle Vannote of West Fargo tonight is mourning the death of her brother John. He was killed at Fort Hood last week.

John Gaffaney was born in Williston and still has still has strong ties to our area, relatives from the McLaughlin and Gaffaney families. At 56, you would think Gaffaney would be dreaming of retirement. Instead, he had re-enlisted into the service and was about to be deployed.

“He just turned 56 in July.”

Michelle Vannote can only smile as she talks about a little brother she had so much respect for.

“My brother was nine years younger than me and a very gentle boy.”

It was after the September 11th attacks that Gaffaney, who had served in the Navy and the California National Guard, re-enlisted.

“He felt compelled that is was his duty to go back and serve his country in an area he had expertise.”

The military told him no. So he head to work for three years to convince this Army that this 54-year old man with hearing loss should be taken back in. He persisted and succeeded. Trained as a mental health and PTSD expert, he had just arrived in Fort Hood.

“He was there a day.”

On his way to Iraq.

“That is what he was doing that day, filling out his will.”

Michelle and her husband Vance loved spending time with John. Miles separated them, but there were family and they kept in touch.

“He was just a good decent man, he really was.”

John won accolades for his work in mental health and elder care. A strong leader, Cpt. Gaffaney was on his way to help our own servicemen and women suffering from war trauma. Tonight the country thanks him, knowing the loss is painful and widespread.

The family of Captain Gaffaney will attend the memorial service at Fort Hood tomorrow and his relatives from around here will travel to San Diego for a full military funeral Friday.

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