Freedom Remembered

Born July 19, 1984 in Onondaga County NY

Died March 17, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq 

United States Army Sergeant Christopher C. Simpson. A native of the Van Buren New York hamlet of Memphis, he attended Jordan-Elbridge schools and Rome Free Academy until ninth grade, when he moved to Hampton, Virginia, with his mother. He loved snowboarding, kayaking, the Washington Redskins football team and all kinds of music. Joining in a family tradition of serving in the military, his father and grandfather were both Air Force veterans, his uncle is a Navy Captain and his brother is serving in the Marine Corps, Chris joined the Army on June 24, 2004. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. He delighted in the ski resorts in Colorado while stationed there. Scheduled to be deployed to Iraq in early 2006, Chris broke his ankle, but never told anyone in his unit, he didn’t want to be separated from them. His tour ended in November 2006 and his second tour of duty began in December 2007. Among the military awards he received are the Army Commendation Medal; two Army Achievement Medals; the Army Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Medal; an Army Service Ribbon; an Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He was promoted to Sergeant after his death and awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Chris had hopes of becoming a history teacher and guiding young people in finding their paths in life, he was killed when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device during combat operations. He was buried at Onondaga County Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery.