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Army Sgt. Caleb P. Christopher, 25, of Chandler, Ariz.

Sgt. Christopher was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died June 3 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

Funeral held for 25-year-old soldier killed in Iraq The Associated Press

MESA, Ariz. — Family and friends remembered an Army soldier who was killed in Iraq as a sharp, thoughtful man of few words who was a wiz at Scrabble.

A roadside bomb killed Sgt. Caleb Christopher, 25, on June 3. His memorial service was held June 12 in Gilbert.

“It’s been rough,” said his father, Edward Christopher. “It’ll be a while before all this sinks in.”

His sister-in-law, Jenny Christopher, said Caleb Christopher had been planning to go on vacation in Florida with his fiancee, Rebecca Cadro, who had already packed her bags.

At the service, all Cadro could do is cry as she stared at the casket.

The Rev. Gary Kennedy said Christopher was best known for rallying his fellow soldiers. “ ‘Don’t be scared, don’t think about it, and we’ll get through it,’ he’d tell them,” Kennedy said.

Christopher served in the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, out of Fort Hood, Texas.

He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Bronze Star and the Global War on Terrorism Service medal.

The family of a Chandler soldier who was killed Sunday in Iraq remembered him Friday as a gentle and intelligent man despite his intimidating stature.

"He was a man of few words with many thoughts and many actions," said Sarah Christopher, sister of Sgt. Caleb P. Christopher, 25.

The family, which had remained quiet since news of his death was released by the Army on Wednesday, spoke outside their rural Chandler home and horse farm.

Rebecca Cadrow, Christopher's fiancée, described him as "catlike" and "cuddly." His last words to her the night before an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle were, "I love you always and forever."

Her fondest memories of their time together were the road trips they took, traveling to states as close as California and as far as Louisiana.

"He loved to relax to music in the car," Cadrow said, wiping away a tear. "He even carried his iPod with him in Iraq."

She said although he liked all genres of music, his favorite song was Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

"He always could convince you he was right," said Edward "E-Jay" Christopher Jr., Caleb's older brother. "He thought things out methodically."

So when the Hamilton High graduate announced his decision to enlist in the Army and then later extend his service, his family and friends did not argue.

"I'm always going to support you in whatever you do," Cadrow told him.

Caleb Christopher served in Afghanistan from 2002 to '03. He deployed to Iraq in 2004 and then again last fall with the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

He was scheduled to return from his third tour in the Middle East on June 1 but extended his stay so he could go before the promotion board.

He earned numerous awards and decorations during his service: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Army Reserve Recruiter Badge.

From the Arizona Republic

Army Sgt. Caleb P. Christopher was killed in action on 6/3/07.

Sgt. Caleb Paul Christopher 25 of Chandler passed away of injuries sustained in action while serving in Iraq on Sunday, June 3, 2007. Sgt. Christopher was born in Chandler on January 13, 1982. He attended Chandler schools and was in the first graduating class at Hamilton High School in 2000. He was an avid wrestler, wrestling all four years through high school. He attended ASU from 2000 to 2001 and as a result of the attack on 9/11 was motivated to enlist into the United States Army. Sgt. Christopher served in the 82nd Airborne Division from 2002-2005 serving one tour in Afghanistan and one tour in Iraq. He then served one year as an Army recruiter in Southern California. Since June 2006, Sgt. Christopher was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, and 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed on his second Operation Iraqi Freedom tour in October 2006 Sgt. Christopher's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, two Iraq Campaign Medals, and Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and US Army Reserve Recruiter Badge. Sgt. Caleb Christopher is preceded in death by his Mother Christie L. Christopher in 1998 and his maternal Grandfather Richard Simons. Survivors include his Father Edward Christopher of Chandler; two Brothers E-Jay and his wife Jenny Christopher of Mesa, Jeremiah and his wife Kristen Christopher of Nacogdoches, Texas, one sister Sarah Christopher of Chandler. Maternal Grandmother Cella Simons of Dryden, New York, and Paternal Grandparents Robert and Wanda Christopher of Gilbert. Caleb is also survived by his fiancee Rebecca Cadro of New Orleans, LA and 5 nieces: Marissa, Morgan, Tara, Moriah, and Alexis. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM, Monday, June 11 at Falconer Funeral Home, 251 W. Juniper Ave. Gilbert, AZ. Graveside services will be held Tuesday June 12, at 10:00 A.M. at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, with a Memorial Service following that afternoon at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church of Gilbert.