Christopher Ian Walz

PFC Christopher Ian Walz, 25, of Company C, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington, passed away, 27 October 2009 in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan while serving to protect his country. He was born in Vancouver, Washington on 3 June 1984. Ian graduated from Hudson's Bay High School in 2002 and received an associates degree from Clark County College in 2007. Ian was employed at Winco Foods in Vancouver, Washington until he joined the United States Army on 4 September 2008. He completed the Vancouver Police Cadet Program and had planned on attending Washington State University in Vancouver upon his expiration term of service so that he could obtain a degree in history or criminal justice as he expressed a desire to have a fulfilling career as a history teacher or a law enforcement officer in the Vancouver, Washington area. Ian was quite positive that his military experience would be helpful to both career paths. Ian was deployed to Afghanistan in July of 2009. He was killed along with six fellow Soldiers from Ft. Lewis on October 27, 2009 in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan. Ian received the following awards for his service in Afghanistan: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and a Good Conduct Medal. Ian was proud to serve his country and loved the Fourth of July. He supported President Obama and would be honored to know that the President met his plane at Dover Air Force Base as he flew into the United States from Afghanistan, attended the Dignified Transfer of the Soldiers from the plane to American soil and spoke with all of the family members of the fallen Soldiers. Ian was survived by his mother, Victoria Walz; his ex-wife, Katrina Walz; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, and many close friends to include his best friend, PFC Angel Almanza, who has volunteered to be Ian's escort and travel with him from Dover Air Force Base to Portland Air National Guard Base. Ceremony arrangements will be held at 11:00 a.m. on 14 November, 2009 at the Portland Air National Guard Base; 6801 NE Cornfoot Road, Portland, Oregon 97218 at the Pavilion. A reception will follow in the gym. There will be a closed casket viewing from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens; 1101 NE 112th Avenue, Vancouver, Washington 98684. Both will be open to the public. All veterans, community and those that knew Ian are encouraged to attend, as Ian loved being with friends and family.

Christopher Ian Walz

June 3, 1984 - October 27, 2009