Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles Bowery, the commander of Task Force Dragon, 4th Combat...... read more read more
PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Task Force Gambler soldiers and friends held a memorial ceremony at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, in remembrance of a fallen pilot May 28.
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Thibodeau, an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot with Company C “Sidewinders”, TF Gambler, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Infantry Division, attached to TF Falcon, 10th CAB, 10th Mountain Div., died May 26 during a mission in Paktika province.
The memorial was held just outside of the TF Gambler tactical operations center with the Chesterland, Ohio, native’s photo, rifle, boots, helmet and identification tags prominently displayed.
“Chris died doing what he loved doing, and what he volunteered to do, flying. Just like all of us he signed up to serve this great country,” said U.S. Army Capt. Casey Rumfelt of Bolivar, Mo., the commander of Company C Sidewinders. “The biggest compliment he gave to me about the Sidewinders was how he wanted to stay one of us when we got back to Hood and on to Bliss. He looked me right in the eye and said ‘Sir, fight for me…’ with that I guaranteed him that I would; and I’ll never stop. Chris will always and forever be a Sidewinder, even after the colors have been cased.”
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles Bowery of Quinton, Va., the commander of Task Force Dragon and Thibodeau’s former commander, highlighted the fallen pilot’s professional skills.
“Chris impressed me with one salient character trait -- enthusiasm and a willingness to pitch in to any task,” said Bowery. “He worked hard at learning his trade as a pilot.”
Thibodeau is survived by his wife, Leesandra Thibodeau, and parents, Bob and Doreen Thibodeau.
Thibodeau’s awards include the Air Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon.
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2011 21:17 |
| Story ID: | 71442 |
| Location: | PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 811 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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