Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"Gone but never forgotten! Every year in July the passing of Chris is always remembered. I remember him asking me prior to my going back to Drum for my mid tour R&R hey SFC Neely can you check on my stuff at Drum. Chris was a hard working caring NCO that always put everyone before himself. I will always remember him as a dedicated NCO that loved his job and his fellow comrades."
Harold Neely of Copperas Cove, Texas

"I served with chris at Drum did not have the honor of serving with him in combat, I always remember him as a very happy guy always making jokes a full of live personality hard working soldier. It was a honor to pass the the responsibility of squad leader to chris I had no doubts of his great leadership. I will always remember you"
Gennis Ruiz of FT. Hood TX

"I worked frequently with SGT Wagener during that deployment. I was assigned to be in that seat that day, before a tasking pulled me off the mission and he replaced me in that seat of that HMMWV. I think of him often, and I live my life knowing more than most what his sacrifice means. I cannot put in words what is in my heart, but while I breathe he will not be forgotten."
Dan Valyou of Potsdam NY

"Chris was a great guy. I think about him often. He loved to Kayak and take pictures/video camera. You don't find many soldiers that were so good at being a mechanic and also being a squared away soldier as Chris. He brought his A game to duty everyday, and I served with him in Bosnia. You are a hero bud. I will never forget."
T-BONE (Scott) of Battle Creek, Michigan

"July, 2008
To the family of Sgt. Christopher A. Wagener:
Christopher gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org"
Peggy Childers of Carson City, NV

"I was a medic called in that day. I was part of the 5-20 infantry battalion. I saw the hurt on the faces of Sgt. Wagner's fellow soldiers. I'm so sorry for the Wagner family's loss."
James Knight of Bozeman, Mt

"To the family of:Christopher A. Wagener I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015. Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga"

"To the Wagener Family
I served with your son in OIF and his lost is difficult to bear know he thought of you often. I remember the good time i spent talking with him and how i picked on him. He will forever be with me."
A soldier

""Memorial Day" 2006
"CHRISTOPHER A. WAGENER"
"I WILL NEVER FORGET"
Proud Army mom of:
Pfc. Adam L. Thomas
KIA: Afghanistan 08-31-03
Ellenethomas@comcast.net"
Ellen Thomas of Burbank, IL

"To the Wagener Family, From the SSG Williams and family. Chris will always be in my heart and in my memories. Your son was a great american and soldier. I enjoyed spending time with Chris on the softball field and listening to his jokes. He was a true American Hero"
SSG Frederick Williams Jr of Fort Drum New York

"My name is Cameron Schilling and I have started “Portrait of a Soldier” which donates a portrait sketch of every Illinois soldier who has fallen in Iraq or Afghanistan. All 122 sketches will be on display for a Memorial Day Presentation in Chicago, Illinois on May 26-31 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. After the ceremony the sketches will be given to the immediate families of the Illinois soldiers. I would invite any friends or family members to come and honor these men and women from Illinois who have given their lives to our country. For more information please contact OperationHomeFront.org at 866-417-8889 which is an organization headed by the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois who is in charge of the Memorial Day Presentation. Thank You.

Please check out www.portraitofasoldier.org
To contact Cameron email cameronschilling84@hotmail.com
To contact Operation Home Front call 866-417-8889"
Cameron Schilling of Charleston, Illinois

"My name is Cameron Schilling. I am a college student from central Illinois. I am the first generation of my family not to serve his country. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice you and your loved one has given for the United States. I am disappointed by the way the news media has covered this war and the deaths of our youth. The media has stopped listing the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq and people only talk about the soldiers when we reach a specific milestone in deaths. If you just started watching the news today you would not even know there is a war going on. Partisan politics have replaced coverage of our young generation who have traveled to a foreign land in the name of the United States. Whether you believe the war in Iraq is wrong, right, justified or not everyone should pay even just a little more attention to what these young men and women are sacrificing. This is what I would like to do. I want to do my part in honoring these soldiers and their memories. Along with being a college student I am also a budding artist. I draw pencil portraits of local people in my community. I want to offer a pencil portrait sketch to the immediate family of every Illinois soldier killed in Iraq. Please contact me at cameronschilling84@hotmail.com."
Cameron of illinois

"To the family and friends of Sgt. Chris Wagener...
My prayers and thoughts are with you. It takes a brave person to give their life for his or her country. Chris was one of those people and I am grateful. Ironically, I found out about him because we were the same age, with the same name, and spelling. I wanted to make you aware so you didn't think it was some insensitive jerk. Feel free to contact me. cawagener@hotmail.com"
Christopher A. Wagener of Minnetonka, MN/USA

"HI my name is Angela and my husband was surving with Chris in Iraq and here at ft drum. I have heard so many stories about him and I just wanted you to know that everyone here still thinks about him and misses him and they still wear his memory braclet. I am very sorry for your loss you got the news that all of us dread. From what I have heard about him he seemed real great and I regret never having the chance to meet him. Just remember we will all see him on the other side!"
Angela of Fort Drum, NY

"To the Family of SGT Christopher Wagener:

My friends and I have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq which includes, as of 7/12/05, 112 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put Christopher's name on one of them. If you would like us to do this, please email me at ArlingtonMidwest@yahoo.com.

We have called our display "Arlington Midwest" and it is located in Wisconsin Dells, WI. It is our expression of mourning for the indescribable loss you have suffered for our country.

We invite you to visit Arlington Midwest. I can send you directions and some pictures by email.

"As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them."
Marty Preston of Wisconsin Dells, WI

"TO THE FAMILY WHO LOST SOMEONE LAST YEAR.I SHARE YOUR PAIN AND GREIF. ARE FAMILY LOST SOMEONE TO.IF YOU KNOW THIS MAN.PLEASE HONOR GARY W WALTERS JR. TO OUR FAMILYS PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU .PLEASE FIND COMFORT AND PEACE."
AMANDA JONES of JOPLIN /MISOURI FIND PEACE

"Wagener family and friends: My greatest sympathy goes out to you. Chris will be remembered always and I feel your pain as I have friends out there fighting. Thanks for fighting for us Chris, You are my hero."
Diana Vasquez of Geneva, IL USA

"Dear Family, My thoughts are with you. I hope in time you can come to terms with your grief. My son is from Ft Drum and 24 years old. He is in Bagdad now. The fighting is intense. I pray he makes it home safe. Your son was a hero."
Sara Dutton of Wadsworth, IL

"Thank you brave soldier for sacrificing your today for my children's safer tomorrow. You have our utmost respect and gratitude. May God provide your family comfort in their time of sorrow. May you forever rest in Heavenly peace. Neither you nor your sacrifice will be forgotten. For the family, may time provide happy, loving memories in place of present sorrows. God bless you."
a grateful citizen in arizona

"We Will NEVER FORGET !"
Please KNOW so many people share your sadness, and we are remembering your family in your loss and your deep grief. Your HERO, Christopher, will be remembered by name. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you. Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"To Christopher's Family and Friends:

On behalf of the Blanco-Caldas family, we send our sincerest condolences. We share the same loss ... the same pain. Our prayers are with you in this most difficult time and we thank you for his bravery and sacrifice.

Sincerely,

The Family of Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco-Caldas, 82nd Airborne
KIA Iraq 12/28/2003.
Gloria Caldas (Ernie's mom) of San Antonio, TX
gloria.caldas@banksterling.com"

"Sergeant Wagener, goodbye soldier and thank you. You are my hero."
Bill of Houston, Texas

"TO THE WAGENER FAMILY FROM THE WAHL FAMILY. OUR HEARTS AND PRAYS ARE WITH YOU. CHRISTOPHER IS ONE SPECIAL SOLDIER, A HERO AND MUCH MORE. HE HAS TOUCHED MANY LIVES. CHRISTOPHER WILL BE MISSED BY THOSE LIVES HE HAS TOUCHED. CHRISTOPHER LOST EFFECTS ME VERY DEEPLY. SINCE OUR SON'S BOTH STATIONED AT FORT DRUM. THIS IS DIFFUCULT, WE STILL FIND IT THAT WAY FOR GREGORY. BUT, IT'S ACOMFORT TO ME THAT HE SERVED WITH SPECIAL PEOPLE AS CHRISTOPHER. GOD BLESS!"
Leonard T Wahl of valley stream ny

"To Chris's Family, He touched my life only three times while paddling kayak, but was a pleasure to know...even briefly. Each time I paddle in those locations, I will send a brief prayer your way."
Rita Carleton of Dexter, NY/USA

"To Christopher's Family:
There are no words to express the sorrow we feel for your loss. May God bless you and help you through this time."
Dan and Meg Manninen of San Antonio, Texas

"Thank you Christopher Wagener, you will not be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my prayers and deep condolences in your loss. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless you all. A very appreciative fellow American,"
Leo Titus of Grayslake, Illinios

"To the family and friends of Sgt. Christopher Wagener:
May God's grace be with you during your time of grief. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your loss and share in your sorrow. Bless Christopher for the sacrifice he has made to make a better life for the rest of us."
The Ford Family of Wells, Nevada

"To the family and friends of Sgt. Christopher Wagener:
I am saddened by the loss of your loved one. He will always be remembered as a hero for fighting for freedom. I hope that this website will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you during this difficult time, and in the future as you recall the memories of Christopher, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia