Sgt. Christopher Wilson - June 2009 Shipment Honoree

Soldier killed in Afghanistan feared never seeing daughter again

The Associated Press

BANGOR, Maine — A soldier who left behind a young daughter in Maine said his greatest fear was ``not coming home to his little girl.''

Army Spc. Christopher Wilson, 24, made the remark on the social networking Web site MySpace.com before being killed last week by a rocket-propelled grenade while deployed with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan.

On the Web, Wilson expressed his love for his 4-year-old daughter, Boston sports teams and his ``buddies back home.'' He said his goal for 2007 was to ``stay alive.''

Army records identified Wilson as being from Bangor, but most of his family ties are in Chicopee, Mass. His daughter, Jayden, is believed to be his only family member living in Maine, said Maj. Michael Backus, director of public affairs of the Maine National Guard.

While it appears Wilson spent most of his youth in Massachusetts, he identified Bangor as his hometown at the time of his Army enlistment in September 2002.

He completed the preliminary Army requirements at the military entrance processing station in Portland, said Ben Abel, media relations officer at Fort Drum, N.Y.

Three other soldiers were wounded in the attack that claimed Wilson's life on March 29 in Korengal Outpost, Afghanistan, officials said.

Gov. John Baldacci will order flags flown at half staff on the day of Wilson's funeral. Funeral services were undetermined as of April 4.

Soldier with Massachusetts ties killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Another soldier with New England ties has died in Afghanistan, the Army said.

Army Spc. Christopher Wilson, 24, died Thursday in Korengal Outpost in Afghanistan after he was injured in a rocket-propelled grenade explosion, the Defense Department said April 2. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum.

The Defense Department identified Wilson as being from Bangor, Maine, where his young daughter, Jayden, lives. The Republican of Springfield, Mass., reported that Wilson formerly lived in Chicopee and that his mother and stepfather, Ilka and Scott Halliday, still live there. His sister, Christina Evans, lives in Texas.

A family friend told The Republican she last saw Wilson in November, when he was home on leave.

``He was his usual outgoing self, but you could tell he had probably seen a lot of things ... he'd experienced people firing on him,'' Monique E. LaRiviere of South Hadley, Mass., said. ``But he wasn't cowering away from it. He kind of wanted to get back there with his buddies.''

Wilson had been in the Army since 2002 and was deployed to Afghanistan with his unit in March 2006, the Army said. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals.

NEWS RELEASE: 3rd BCT Soldier killed in Afghanistan March 29

FORT DRUM – A 3rd Brigade Combat Team Soldier was killed during a firefight with enemy forces near Korengal, Afghanistan March 29.

Spc. Christopher M. Wilson, 24, was an infantryman assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment.

Wilson was killed when a rocket propelled grenade exploded near his position. Three other Soldiers were wounded in the incident.

Originally from Bangor, Maine, Wilson enlisted in the Army in September 2002 and completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga.

In January 2003, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Regiment, a unit that conducts initial entry training. In September 2004, Wilson was reassigned to 1-32 Inf. at Fort Drum where he served as a rifleman.

Wilson deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in March 2006.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

He is survived by his daughter Jayden; mother, Ilka Halliday; step-father Scott Halliday; and sister Christina Evans.

Sgt. Christopher M. Wilson 1982-2007 CHICOPEE - Sgt. Christopher M. Wilson, 24, of the U.S. Army died a hero from injuries he received in Afghanistan on March 29, 2007. He was born in Dickinson, N.D. on April 20, 1982. Our son Christopher was an outstanding and wonderful young man and soldier with a great sense of humor. He loved his country. He was loved by all and when he loved he loved Deep. He was always the mediator in every situation. He had a great love of family where as everyone he met he embraced them all family. His love for country and being a soldier did no just start. It started when he was a very young boy. It actually started when he was 18 months old and he would always run around in his diaper and combat boots. He knew he was going to be a soldier and dreamed of becoming a soldier in the United States Army. He lived his dream when he joined the Army a year after 9/11 which devastated and grieved him. He always wanted to do his part for his country. Christopher was a true American citizen, when he was growing up I (his mom) would speak German to him, he would always break out in a chorus of "Born in the USA." He always cried at Disney Movies and one of his favorites was "Lion King." Christopher had a deep spiritual conviction and spoke with God often. In one conversation his father had with him, he made it clear that one of the things that kept him going while in Afghanistan was the fact that he was helping the children and other innocent people of Afghanistan. He thought the country of Afghanistan was absolutely beautiful. We loved our son and we are very proud of him and know that he did a great job. We know that he was well trained to do his job and loved what he was doing even under the circumstances. He also loved serving his country with his whole heart and truly believed in what he was doing. Christopher is survived by his parents Scott and Ilka (Flohr) Halliday; his daughter Jayden Danielle Wilson; one brother Breckon J.; one sister Katrina Evens; and his grandparents Harry and Marilyn Halliday. He was predeceased by his brother Jesse in 1984; by his grandfather Vernon F. Flohr in 1985; and by his grandmother Jutta Flohr in 1989. The Funeral for Christopher will be held on Monday morning at 11 AM at the Second Baptist Church, Granby Road, South Hadley. Burial with military honors will be held in Arlington National Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Ryder Funeral Home of South Hadley is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Sgt. Christopher M. Wilson Trust Fund at Bank North. RYDER FUNERAL HOME 533-1735

Local News:

http://obits.masslive.com/obituaries/masslive/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=87075922

Military Times:

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/2670094.html

http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/installation/pao/releases/newsItem.asp?id=2007/0704-04

Additional Websites:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cmwilson.htm