Kansas soldier Sgt. Mike Knapp, killed in action in Afghanistan Friday!

"Local soldier killed in action " Posted: May 19, 2012 12:16 PM EDT Updated: May 19, 2012 12:21 PM EDT "By Laura McCallister, Multimedia Producer - email "By Dave Jordan, News Reporter - email "OVERLAND PARK, KS (KCTV) - "An Overland Park family is coming together to remember a soldier killed in Afghanistan. Sgt. Mike Knapp was killed in the line of duty early Friday morning. He just became a father nine months ago. "Right after Knapp graduated from Shawnee Mission North, he went into the National Guard, served a few years, left briefly and then re-enlisted as a full-time soldier. He was supposed to be home in just three days before the tragedy happened. "The Mike Knapp his military colleagues knew was a 28-year-old Kansas native who loved being a soldier and serving his country. But Tom Brassfield paints a different picture of the Overland Park high school graduate – as a God-fearing traditionalist who asked him for his daughter's hand in marriage. ""Mike was the best son-in-law for my daughter and, when he asked to marry my daughter and I knew that he knew God, I said ‘yes,'" Brassfield said. "Knapp's wife, Abby, and their newborn daughter had recently moved back to Kansas from the Northwest as Knapp was serving his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. The family was anticipating a brief, but long-awaited, reunion when Knapp would return home for a two-week vacation but, Friday morning, his in-laws received the grim news that two servicemen were killed in Afghanistan. "Brassfield's wife heard a news report and then saw two military personnel walking up to the house. "She called me immediately and said ‘please come home quickly' and I just ran out the door," Brassfield said. "His daughter arrived shortly after. "She (Abby) came home with a 9-month-old baby and saw the government plates and immediately knew what it was and they just told us the best way they could that Mike had been killed in Afghanistan early this morning, May 18," Brassfield said. "As neighbors heard the news, they quickly displayed their flags, some stopping by to pay their respects. Right now, the family doesn't know the details of his death, other than the fact that it happened at military artillery on the Afghan border. "For now, they're focusing on the memories of Knapp and his ultimate sacrifice. "Our son-in-law served bravely and he did what he wanted to do for his country," Brassfield said. "Knapp's mother found out about his death just a few hours before 10 p.m. Friday. She was out of town and headed back to Kansas when she got the news. "Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.)All rights reserved." Kenneth Stepp salutes Kansas soldier Sgt. Mike Knapp, who was killed in action in Afghanistan Friday!