Christian B. Williams (November 30, 1978–July 29, 2006)

D Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division

By Jim Stoddard

Early Life

The Williams Family, circa 1990

On November 30, 1978, Christian B. Willaims was born to Jack and Maria Williams.¹ Jack met and married Maria Lisa Bautisa in the Philippines, where he served as a machinist in the US Navy. He joined the Navy in 1972 and made a career of it. Jack retired in 1994 as a Chief Petty Officer.² While stationed in the Philippines, Jack and Maria’s family grew. They welcomed Christian’s younger sisters Neliza in 1981 and Jonahlyn in 1983. A few years later, while the family was stationed in Japan, the Williams family, seen here, added their fourth child, Christian’s younger brother, Vincent Daniel, in 1989.³

When Jack retired from the Navy in 1994, he got a job as an engineer with the Merchant Marine and the family moved to Winter Haven, FL.⁴ Christian enrolled at Winter Haven High School. As a boy, he expressed interest in joining the military. It was no surprise to his family, then, when he quickly joined the high school’s Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC).⁵ As a cadet in this program, he participated in the drill team and a summer camp at Camp Blanding in Starke, FL. Christian met fellow cadet Derick Letteau while in Winter Haven’s JROTC. Though Christian was a sophomore, and Derick a freshman, they became best friends.⁶

Christian and Derick transferred to Lake Region High School when it opened in the fall of 1995.⁷ They both joined the school’s newly formed Marine Corps JROTC program. Christian became a member of its drill, rifle, and physical training teams.⁸ In addition to being a JROTC cadet, Christian was an active student athlete. He lifted weights for Lake Region’s weightlifting team and practiced taekwondo.⁹ During this time, Christian received an invitation to compete in USA Weightlifting’s National Junior Championship competition. Christian turned down the invitation due to his investment in JROTC and his intention to join the US Marine Corps.¹⁰ Christian started talking to Marine recruiters in his last couple years of high school. Prior to graduation from Lake Region, he joined the Marine Corps’ Delayed Entry Program (DEP).¹¹ As a “poolee” in the DEP, Christian readied himself for recruit training through physical training and team building exercises led by his recruiter.¹² Christian graduated from Lake Region High School in May of 1997.¹³

Military Life

Christian shipped out to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, SC in June of 1997.¹⁴ He trained as a recruit in Platoon 2014, Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. He graduated as a Marine thirteen weeks later, in August of 1997. After recruit training, Christian attended the Marine Corps School of Infantry (SOI) in Camp LeJeune, NC. After he completed SOI as a rifleman, Christian remained on Camp LeJeune for his first duty station. While on leave, he traveled down to MCRD Parris Island in October of 1998 to visit his best friend, Derick. Since Derick was one year younger than Christian, he had to wait until 1998 to join the Marine Corps. Coincidently, Derick lived in the same squad bay, slept on the same rack, and had the same drill instructor as Christian did when he trained to become a Marine.¹⁵

In late 1999, Christian chose to get out of the Marine Corps. He returned to his hometown of Winter Haven, FL. He chose to enroll in school at Polk County Community College. During this time Christian’s decision weighed heavily on him and he often thought about returning to the Marine Corps.¹⁶ In 2000, he rejoined the Marine Corps and returned to Camp LeJeune. He trained as a Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile gunner. He became a member of Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.¹⁷ While with Weapons Company, Christian deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the USS Wasp.¹⁸ While deployed, the 24th MEU sailed through the Mediterranean and Black Seas, stopped in nine countries, and took part in five exercises with allied and partner nations.¹⁹

After returning from deployment, Christian departed for a one-year tour of duty on Okinawa. While there, he took part in bilateral training between US and Filipino forces called Exercise Balikatan.²⁰ Balikatan is Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder.²¹ Since Christian was born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother, this exercise had a personal importance to him.²² After he completed his year in Okinawa, Christian returned to Camp LeJeune. Shortly thereafter, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC on September 11, 2001. In a brave act of volunteerism, Christian took leave and traveled to Ground Zero to help in whatever way he could.²³

In the spring of 2002, Christian deployed yet again. This time with the 22nd MEU in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT).²⁴ The MEU engaged in multiple antiterrorism missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as a humanitarian assistance effort in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa.²⁵ While on this deployment, Christian attained the rank of Corporal.²⁶ The 22nd MEU returned in August of 2002.²⁷ In the spring of 2003, Christian deployed for the third time in four years. This time, he deployed to support the initial phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After the invasion of Iraq, he returned to Camp Lejeune.²⁸

In late 2004, Christian departed the Marine Corps for a second time and returned home to Winter Haven. By this time, Derick was also out of the Marine Corps. He worked at Hughes Electric and helped Christian to get a job there as well. As with the last time he got out of the Corps, Christian felt out of place in civilian life and still maintained the desire to serve his country.²⁹ Christian enlisted in the Marine Corps for a third time in late-2005. He changed his military occupational specialty to light armored reconnaissance and earned a promotion to sergeant. He received orders from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA and joined the 1st Marine Division’s 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion. He served as a team leader in Delta Company’s 2nd Platoon.³⁰

A few months after Christian joined the unit, 3rd LAR deployed to the Al Anbar Province of Iraq in March of 2006. The 3rd LAR combined with an Army infantry company, a human intelligence exploitation team, and a Combat Applications Group detachment was designated as Task Force (TF) Wolfpack. The TF conducted counterinsurgency operations in western Iraq towns and cities, such as Fallujah, Al Rutbah, Al Taqaddum, and Anah. Between March and June, Christian’s Delta Company left this TF and worked with Regimental Combat Team (RCT)-5 in Fallujah. After Delta Company returned to TF Wolfpack, it continued counterinsurgency operations in and around Al Rurbah.³¹

In July, TF Wolfpack split in half to support two sub-task forces, TF Rutbah and TF Rawah, each named for the areas in which the TF’s operated. Christian, along with his fellow Delta Company Marines, belonged to TF Rawah.³² On July 29, Marines from Delta Company’s 2nd Platoon established security outside the town of Anah, about thirteen miles south of Rawah. Christian and a few of his Marine comrades took up a position inside a makeshift compound, while Corporal (Cpl) Phillip Baucus and Lance Corporal (LCpl) Tony Butterfield were posted outside at a vehicle checkpoint. During that afternoon, as the weather deteriorated, a vehicle approached the checkpoint. Cpl Baucus and LCpl Butterfield ordered the driver to stop his vehicle. When the driver did not stop, the two Marines opened fire in an attempt to halt the vehicle. They successfully stopped the vehicle before it breached the checkpoint but could not prevent the detonation of the vehicle’s improvised explosive device.³³

The blast killed Cpl Phillip Baucus and LCpl Tony Butterfield and significantly damaged the compound that housed Christian, Cpl Adam A. Galvez, LCpl Jason Hanson, and LCpl Joseph T. Hand.³⁴ Because their compound was made of sand-filled defensive barriers and plywood, the compound collapsed on the Marines and buried them in sand and debris. The remainder of 2nd Platoon responded to the site as follow-on attacks ensued. While some Marines returned fire, others extracted the injured Marines from the collapsed compound. Despite a broken ankle, Cpl Galvez helped to recover Christian, LCpl Hanson, and LCpl Hand from the rubble. 2nd Platoon medically evacuated the four injured Marines. Tragically, Sgt Christian B. Williams, and LCpl Jason Hanson succumbed to their wounds.³⁵

Legacy

The 3rd LAR Marines and Corpsman lost during the 2006 Iraq deployment

After the attack on July 29, 2006, 3rd LAR held a two-day stand down and a ceremony to honor their fallen comrades. After the standdown ended, it resumed operations in Al Anbar. 3rd LAR suffered three more losses on August 20: Cpl Adam A. Galvez, who survived the July 29 attack, LCpl Randy L. Newman, and their Corpsman, Chadwick T. Kenyon.³⁶ The Marines of 3rd LAR memorialized their fallen comrades with a photo memorial, seen here. In late-September, 2nd LAR arrived in Iraq to relieve 3rd LAR. At that point, 3rd LAR began its redeployment back to Twentynine Palms.³⁷

Within forty-eight hours of Christian’s death on July 29, 2006, his family received notification. His remains arrived in Tampa, FL about two weeks later.³⁸ The Williams family held Christian’s funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winter Haven.³⁹ In a testament to Christian’s impact and character, funeral attendees filled the church to capacity and left standing room only.⁴⁰ After the conclusion of the Mass, Christian’s funeral procession received a 300 strong motorcycle escort from the Patriot Guard Riders. The procession traveled over seventy-two miles from Winter Haven to Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.⁴¹ With full military honors, the Williams Family interred Christian in Section 402, Site 53.⁴²

Christian’s legacy continued long after his family laid him to rest. Jack Williams, Christian’s father, wanted to erect a monument to his son.⁴³ In 2010, Jack’s goal inspired a Marine Veteran named Chrsitopher Lujan who lived in nearby Lake Alfred, FL. The pair worked with local leaders to complete their goal. In June of 2013, they dedicated the Lake Alfred Veterans Memorial to Christian and other local Veterans.⁴⁴ Derick Letteau honors his best friend every Memorial Day with a ten mile walk from his home in Fouke, AR to his local Veterans Park. During his walks, Derick carries a Marine Corps flag featuring the signatures of Christian’s comrades from 3rd LAR. While this began as a personal memorialization by Derick for Christian, it caught the attention of a local news agency in 2022. The coverage created an opportunity for Derick to raise awareness of Christian’s sacrifice, as well as money to help clean up the park.⁴⁵

Sadly, the loss of Christian was not the only tragedy suffered by the Williams family. Shortly after Christian’s death, his younger brother, Vincent, suffered a traumatic brain injury. In the years after, Vincent dealt with seizures. On May 4, 2023, a blood clot claimed Vincent’s life.⁴⁶ Like Christian, Vincent dedicated his life to the service of others. In Vincent’s case, he fed, clothed, and housed the poor. He regularly donated his own income and possessions to those he believed in need.⁴⁷ Though the Williams family suffer greatly at the loss of Christian and Vincent, they draw strength from their examples and regularly visit their gravesites. Christian’s mother, Maria, posts on memorial boards to commemorate her sons and their service.⁴⁸

More than memories and stories keep Christian’s legacy alive. It also lives on in a number of namesakes. Both of Christian’s sisters have children who carry their uncle’s name forward: Zane Christian Patterson, son of Neliza, and Christianelle Rebarchek, daughter of Jonahlyn. Marines who served with Christian also chose to keep his memory alive in their children. Christian’s drill instructor, his friend Timothy, and his friend Stevin all have children they named after Christian.⁴⁹

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