Pfc Ryan Douglas Christensen
United State Army 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade,3ID Fort Stewart, Ga
US Army
Pfc Christensen's Act of Heroism
My son went to Iraq to make A difference. He join after 9-11 that had a hugh impact on him. He went to the Science Center in Jersey City and took picture of the New York sky line in like 9th grade. After 9-11 he would go there alot he took pictures and carried them with him everywhere.he went to Iraq in Jan 2005
and became ill in middle of Oct.2005. He had surgery over there and it just got worse.He made it back to the states on 18th of Nov. He died on Thanksgiving Day 11-24-05.Operation Iraqi Freedom
My Hero
Operation Iraqi Freedom
He felt everyone should be treated equal. He didn`t care what color or religion you were, if you were rich or poor, what rank, he felt everyone should be treaed fairly I truley admired him for that. He was very upset and mad about 9-11. That was one of the main reasons he join the Army. He carried those pictures everywhere.He had a sense of humor and loved music.Computers was his thing as well as drawing and video games.My son walked me down the aisle when I god married on New Years Eve before he went to Iraq. He truley love his family and was happy with himself. I`m very proud of whom he was and miss him terribly!!! He will forever be in my heart, never forgotten.
Love always,
Mom
Letters
Pfc Ryan D Christensen United State Army
Ryan was an only Child of Suzette DeTulio. Born on March 16th 1983, today Ryan would have been 28 years old. Ryan was an active kid, who loved video games and would have to always have the latest one. He also had a passion for drawing, especially Japanese animation. Ryan wanted to design his own animation video game. Computers well where do we begin, he excelled with them. Ryan was a sponge when it came to information that he wanted to know. He pretty much taught himself. He could fix any ones computer.
Family was very important to him as well as friends. Ryan strongly believe no matter who you were you should be treated equally the same as anyone else. He was very talented no matter what he did.
9/11 had a strong impact on him. His uncle lost a friend in the towers. Ryan had a picture of the twin towers that he took when he was in high school. After 9/11 he went to ground zero and took more pictures that he carried with him always. He join the Army the following August, we didn`t realize what an impact until after. Whenever he was home he made a trip to New York. Ryan did his Basic Training at Fort Benning Ga, Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon Ga. He was in Communications, assisted in management of a robust and reliable Voice and Data Network. He was at Camp Humphrey in Korea for a year and 5 months after that he was deployed to Iraq with the 3rd ID from Fort Stewart Ga. He was happy with himself and his accomplishment and the way his life was going. Before he left for Iraq he gave his mother away at her wedding 12-31-04. On Thanksgiving Day 2005 Ryan died from a drug resistance bacterial infection that he contracted in Iraq 3 weeks prior to his death.
Awards & Decorations
1.) Army Commendation Medal
2.) Good Conduct Medal
3.) National Defense Service Medal
4.) Iraqi Campaign Medal
5.) Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
6.) Korean Defense Service Medal
7.) Army Service Medal
8.) Bronze Medal
9.) A Tree at Warrior Walk Fort Stewart Ga.
10.) A Plaque at the Cove Of Remembrance Fort Huachuca Az.