SGT Christopher C. Simpson, U.S. Army
July 19, 1984 – March 17, 2008
Chris grew up in upstate New York and attended Rome Free Academy before moving to Hampton, Virginia. He loved the outdoors—snowboarding, hiking, kayaking, golfing, and riding his motorcycle. One of his mottos was “live life with adventure,” a philosophy he fully embraced. He planned to use the GI Bill to attend college and dreamed of becoming a history teacher, hoping to help young people find their way in life.
In 2004, Chris continued his family’s tradition of military service by enlisting in the U.S. Army. After completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. He deployed to Iraq in 2006 and expected to be discharged in October 2007. But under the military’s stop-loss policy, his service was extended. Rather than complain, he saw it as a chance to continue serving with his fellow soldiers. His unit deployed again to Iraq in December 2007. On March 17, 2008, Chris was killed in Baghdad when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations.
His legacy endures in the hearts of his family, friends, and fellow soldiers.
