Sgt. Kenneth Gibson

The Christiansburg soldier killed in Iraq on Sunday was a leader and believed in his cause, those close to him said Tuesday.

Sgt. Kenneth B. Gibson, 25, was fatally injured by an improvised explosive device that detonated near him during operations in Tarmiyah, according to the Department of Defense.

He leaves behind a wife, Nikki, to whom he was married for six years; his parents, Athena and Robert Gibson of Christiansburg; and a sister.

Pat Davis of Shawsville, the grandmother of Gibson's wife, said though Gibson didn't talk about his work much, he believed in what he was doing.

"I do remember asking him one time, I said, 'Kenny, do you really think it is all worth it, for our men and women to be over there?' And he said, 'Oh yes.' " Davis said.

Davis also noted that Gibson cherished her granddaughter.

"He adored his wife. He absolutely adored her, and she him," she said.

Gibson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Sgt. 1st Class Manuel Torres of the unit said two other soldiers were injured during the attack, which occurred while they were responding to a different IED. As they were inspecting it, another went off, Torres said.

Gibson joined the Army in March 2002 and was assigned to Schofield Barracks in August of that year.

A teacher at Christiansburg High School, from where Gibson graduated in 2001, said he had always noticed that Gibson possessed leadership qualities.

"His decision to join the Army didn't surprise me at all," said Dan Swafford, who teaches agriculture at the high school.

Gibson was a hard worker who always tended to his assignments and was somewhat quiet, Swafford said.

Swafford said Gibson was a family friend, close to his daughter and stepson in their younger years.

"He was always a good kid. I was saddened to hear" of his death, Swafford said.

Christiansburg High will honor Gibson, who once played football for the Blue Demons, with a moment of silence at its first home game Aug. 22. The marching band will also perform taps and release blue and gold balloons.

Gibson's parents declined to comment on Tuesday afternoon. As of Tuesday evening, no funeral arrangements had been set.

Staff writers Neil Harvey and Tim Thornton contributed to this report.