A Daredevil with a Sense of Humor
by Monica Kleyman
Christopher Birdwell poses in front of the American flag ( Picture courtesy of denverpost.com)
Pam Birdwell holding the flag that was covered over Christopher’s casket when he returned from Afghanistan ( Photo courtesy of thecoloradan.com)
Christopher Birdwell
June 2, 1987-August 27, 2012
Christopher Birdwell was born on June 2, 1987 to parents Pam and Jim Birdwell. His parents own an air conditioning company in Windsor, Colorado. Christopher was the oldest sibling. His younger siblings were Maley, Maegan, and Dustin. They were all raised in Windsor, Colorado where Christopher attended Windsor High School. Christopher joined the Army in 2006, shortly after graduating high school. He joined due to a love of patriotism and the Army taught him how to be a leader.[1] Christopher had been one of the many Americans who had been inspired to serve due to the events of 9/11.[2] Jim Birdwell explained that his son “really fit into the service” and that “he was going to make it a career,” which is exactly what Christopher did.[3] Christopher kept going up in rank during his career in the military. Christopher had been at the top of his class in Army Sniper School and had been certified from the Army Airborne School. In February 2011, Christopher was promoted to Sergeant. He was a squad leader and had eight soldiers under his lead.[4] Christopher went on three tours to Afghanistan in 2006, 2009 and in 2012.[5] Christopher would always surprise his parents when he returned.[6]
President Bush had sent troops to Afghanistan initially to fight the Taliban and those who were responsible for the attacks of 9/11. When Christopher joined the Army in 2006, the violence in Afghanistan was increasing, despite hopes that Afghan troops could take back control of their country. President Obama recommitted to Afghanistan and sent in more troops in 2009; Obama also sent aid to Pakistan (the hope was that a stable Pakistan would keep Al-Qaeda and the Taliban from retreating), while continuing to fight terrorism in Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan supported this strategy and more soldiers were sent in to train Afghan soldiers, in hopes of training them to take back control of their own country.[7]
President Obama continued to send in troops but stated that he would start taking troops out by July 2011. On May 1, 2011, Al- Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan and there was a call to take out more U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Later in 2011, Obama called for more troop withdrawal due to mounting pressures, as polls showed that most Americans did not support the war. In 2012, the Taliban canceled any talks with the United States and tensions flared between the United States and Afghanistan.[8]
Christopher was killed on August 27, 2012 in Kalagush, Afghanistan. Christopher’s unit had left early that morning on a route clearance mission, which had an end goal of closing one of their Forward Operating Bases. Later that morning, one of the vehicles in the convoy had been damaged by an IED explosion. The convoy then stopped, and Christopher got out to inspect the area. At this point a convoy from the Afghanistan National Army was let in. After Christopher went to go talk to the ANA commander about the damaged vehicle, the gunner on the ANA convoy decided to shoot Christopher and Mabry Anders. The men had no time to defend themselves and were both killed in the act. In 2012, the Afghan National Army was working on taking back control of their country and they were allies with the Americans. The year 2012 had the highest number of incidents of where Afghani soldiers attacked American soldiers. These were known as “Green on Blue” insider attacks. Green is referring to ANA and NATO troops, while Blue refers to American troops. The Taliban is known as Red forces.[9] The Afghan soldier who shot Christopher and Mabry was later killed by an airstrike. Christopher was only 25 when he was killed.
Christopher had been on his third tour of Afghanistan when he was killed, and he had spent almost all of his adult life in the U.S. Army. He had been assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, which is part of Fort Carson’s 4th Infantry Division. Christopher earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star and twenty other military honors during his service.[10] Christopher was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant after his death.[11] Part of US highway 34 which is close to Windsor, Colorado is named in Christopher’s honor. There is a memorial bench in Christopher’s honor on the Poudre River Trail in Greeley, Colorado. There is also a tree in his honor at Windsor High School. Christopher will be remembered for his bravery, his personality, his charm, and his humor.[12] Outside of his time in the military, Christopher enjoyed fast cars, snowmobiles, and jumping out of airplanes. Even though he was a daredevil, Christopher could light up any room with his humor. His family states on their company website, “His talent for enjoying life touched everyone who knew him.”[13] Christopher had given his life to what he believed in, as the military had been his career. He fought for what he believed was right, no matter what the outcome of his service was.
Footnotes ↓
[1] Dickman, Pamela. "Northern Colorado Says Goodbye to Sgt. Christopher Birdwell (multimedia)." Loveland Reporter-Herald. September 8, 2012.
[2] Birdwell, Pam. “HVAC Company Windsor CO | American Air Heating & Air Conditioning.” American Air, www.americanairheatingco.com/about/.
[3] Parker, Ryan. "Windsor Soldier Killed Overseas, Death under Investigation." The Denver Post. May 1, 2016.
[4] Parker, Ryan. "Windsor Soldier Killed Overseas, Death under Investigation." The Denver Post. May 1, 2016.
[5] Birdwell, Pam. “HVAC Company Windsor CO | American Air Heating & Air Conditioning.” American Air, www.americanairheatingco.com/about/.
[6] Dickman, Pamela, "Northern Colorado Says Goodbye to Sgt. Christopher Birdwell." Loveland Reporter-Herald. September 8, 2012.
[7] “A Timeline of the U.S. War in Afghanistan,” Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/timeline/us-war-afghanistan.
[8] “A Timeline of the U.S. War in Afghanistan,” Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/timeline/us-war-afghanistan.
[9] Birdwell, Pam. “HVAC Company Windsor CO | American Air Heating & Air Conditioning.” American Air, www.americanairheatingco.com/about/.
[10] "Windsor Pays Tribute to Army Sgt. Christopher Birdwell." The Denver Post, April 29, 2016.
[11] "Third Annual Christopher Birdwell Memorial Fundraiser Takes Places Aug. 23." Greeley Tribune, August 22, 2015.
[12]Duggan, Kevin. "Every Day Is Memorial Day for Families of the Fallen." Coloradoan, May 29, 2018.
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