The rifle, boots and identification tags of Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Wilbur sit on display during a memorial ceremony in his honor, Sept. 6, 2016, at Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tre Marris)
Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Wilbur
Feb. 26, 1980 – Aug. 12, 2016
Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Wilbur was born Feb. 26, 1980, in Granite City, Illinois. He enlisted in the Army June 8, 2005, as a mortar gunner.
After graduating from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. During his tenure with 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005-2006. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he deployed to Iraq as a squad leader from 2007-2008 and Afghanistan from 2010-2011. Wilbur served as a drill sergeant at Fort Benning for nearly three years before being assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, at Fort Carson, where he deployed to Afghanistan this year as a mortar platoon sergeant.
Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Wilbur
Wilbur’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal and Combat Infantryman and Air Assault badges.
He is survived by his wife, Lindsey Wilbur; children, Alexander and Susanna; mother, Peggy King; and his father, Richard Wilbur, and stepmother, Phyliss Wilbur.