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^th, 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 Gassmann’s truck careened and crashed into a deserted filling station at Denver and Hackberry. Martinez, the rookie, was killed instantly when he was thrown to the pavement before Capt. 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 22^nd 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. He was survived by his wife Bertha and daughters Alice Marie, Margaret Claire and Mary Cecelia.

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