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SGT. 1ST CLASS CHRISTOPHER J. SPEER Operation Enduring Freedom Sgt. 1st Class Christopher J. Speer was born in Denver, Colo., on September 9, 1973 and enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 8, 1992.

After completing basic combat training, he graduated from the Medical Specialist course and was assigned to the U.S. Army Hospital at Carlisle Barracks, Penn. In November 1994, Speer volunteered and was selected for Special Forces training. He completed his Special Forces training in early 1997 as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D) and was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., in May of the same year.

He remained in 3rd Group for several years until his assignment to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Speer deployed to Afghanistan this spring to augment special operations forces in the country. He was one of five soldiers wounded July 27.

Speer's awards and decorations include the Soldiers Medal, the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and two Army Achievement Medals.

Speer was authorized to wear the Combat Medical Badge, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Scuba and Air Assault Badges and the Special Forces Tab. His wife, Tabitha; daughter, Taryn; son, Tanner and mother, Betty, survive him. Comments/Citation

Army Sgt. 1st Class Speer was assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Speer was wounded on July 27, 2002 during an attack in Afghanistan and died at a military hospital in Germany on August 7, 2002. Speer died of a head wound suffered when his reconnaissance patrol was ambushed near Khowst, in eastern Afghanistan. Six days before he received the wounds that killed him, Chris walked into a minefield to rescue two wounded Afghan children. He applied a tourniquet to one child and bandaged the other. Then he stopped a passing military truck to take the wounded children to a U.S. Army field hospital saving their lives. Chris enlisted in the Army on July 8, 1992. After completing basic combat training, he graduated from the medical-specialist course and was assigned to the Army Hospital at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. In November 1994, he volunteered and was selected for Special Forces training. He completed training in early 1997 as a Special Forces medical sergeant. He was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg in May 1997. He remained in the 3rd Group for several years until he was assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. Chris was remembered as a capable and confident soldier with an unflappable sense of humor. When the chips were down, he could pick up his co-workers with a smile and a laugh. They remembered him as a loving husband and father who had a sparkle in his eyes whenever he talked about his family. Chris leaves behind his wife, Tabitha, and his two children. His funeral was held at the Village Chapel, Pinehurst, North Carolina. Burial:

Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend.