Based: Ft. Lewis, Wash.
2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: May 26, 2008
Ghazni, Afghanistan
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Santa Rosa
High School: Rincon High School (Carpinteria)
October 16, 2008~ Jenn Schaefer, Sacramento, California
Funny how things happen Chris, you were weighing heavy on my mind today, and I didn't even realize it was your birthday. You are missed.
Christopher Gathercole lived most of his childhood in foster homes, and as he came to the end of his high school education in Santa Rosa three years ago, he considered becoming a police officer. He chose the military instead.
"He was a tough kid, and I'm not surprised he went into the military," said Wes Anderson of San Ramon, who went to school with Spc. Gathercole. He recalled that his friend's road through childhood was rocky, "not having his parents around," but said "he made the best of what he had.
"He was awesome."
The Army Special Operations Command Service reported that Spc. Gathercole specialized in using the powerful, belt-fed MK46 machine gun and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Lewis, Wash. He died near Ghazni, which is in the eastern sector of Afghanistan.
Spc. Gathercole had earned the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal.
"He wanted to change himself, and he wanted to change the world around him," his 23-year-old brother, Edward Gathercole of Santa Rosa, told the San Rosa Press Democrat. "In his opinion, he was doing the highest civic duty possible."
Spc. Gathercole is survived by his brother; his father Edward R. Gathercole of Santa Rosa; and his mother, Catherine Haines of Fairfield.
Read the entire SFGate article about Army Specialist Christopher Gathercole here.
Find more about Specialist Gathercole at Military Times
and at Ranger Lead the Way.
Visit Christopher Gathercole's Guest Book.
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