WAYNESVILLE - A Waynesville man who died from a non-combat injury while serving as a Fort Riley military policeman is being remembered as a good soldier, an outdoorsman and someone who was always looking to make people laugh.

John C. Gaston, 26, was attending a birthday party for a fellow MP in Chapman, Kan., on Saturday night. He was killed by a train as he walked across some railroad tracks.

John C. Gaston

"He was sort of a little redneck," says his father, John Gaston Sr. "He loved deer hunting, bow hunting and fishing. He was a real outdoorsman. He had a serious side, and was always willing to listen to people, but he also loved to make people laugh."

The elder Gaston said his son was a great soldier, having been on two tour of duties in Iraq. Most recently, he was stationed with the 287th Military Police Co. of Fort Riley and was well-liked by everyone in his unit.

"We're just overwhelmed with the news, but also with the outpouring of compassion from our friends, our relatives, and the military," his father said. "It's the worst news you can get and yet, you are comforted by those that knew him and knew what a great man he was. We are literally hearing from people all over the world. He touched so many people."

The elder Gaston said words cannot describe how much he will miss his son.

"We were so close," he said. "When he lived in this area, you never saw one of us without the other. We had an excellent father-son relationship."

The younger Gaston had just returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq in December and was off-duty at the time of the accident

"It's so difficult to think that he was over in Iraq twice and then come back and have this kind of accident," said his cousin, Kristi Conn. "It's been really tough on all of us."

Gaston's sister, Maria Smith, appreciated the hospitality of a small town where everyone seemed to have known him.

"He was a great person and he will be missed very much," she said.

Gaston graduated from Olympia High School in 1999.

The investigation into the accident is continuing by both military and civilian officials.