Cause
of Death: Blood
clot from injuries
End of Watch: January 22, 1943
Date of Incident: January 19, 1943
Age: 49
Rank: Captain
Status: Career
Badge Number: N/A
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Assignment: Ladder
Truck #3 (Station #7)
Final Alarm: South Gevers
Nature of Death: Died from injuries sustained in 3-way vehicle
crash.
Captain Gassmann had recently been promoted to Junior Captain when he met his untimely death. He was in charge of Truck #3 at Fire Station #7 when the trip sounded a regular alarm on South Gevers on January 19, 1943. Captain Gassmann, siren blaring and bell clanging, rolled down South Hackberry with a full compliment of fireman. Hanging on the running board was rookie fireman Henry E. Martinez. As the large red ladder truck approached Aransas it collided forcefully into a butane truck that ignored the emergency vehicle’s warnings. After the impact Captain Gassmann’s truck careened and crashed into a deserted filling station at Denver and Hackberry. Fireman Martinez, the rookie, was killed instantly when he was thrown to the pavement before Captain Gassmann’s eyes. Captain Gassmann sustained injuries to his legs, back and arms. He was transported to the hospital, treated and released. He returned to the hospital on the 22nd of January complaining of chest and leg pain. He died very soon after. It is believed that he was felled by a blood clot formed by his injuries. Captain Gassmann joined Martinez in final rest at San Fernando Cemetery #2.
Captain Alfred G. Gassmann was survived by his wife Bertha and daughters Alice Marie, Margaret Claire and Mary Cecilia.