Oak Ridge Today

Monday ceremony will welcome soldier returning home from Afghanistan

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Friends of a solider returning home from a 10-month tour in Afghanistan have organized a Monday morning welcome-home ceremony in Oak Ridge.

The family of U.S. Army Sgt. Neal Martin is expected to arrive in Oak Ridge at about 8 a.m. Monday.

The family is coming from Gatlinburg and plan to arrive in Oak Ridge on Pellissippi Parkway before driving down Lafayette Drive, then down New York and Vermont avenues in a newer-model Nissan Rogue with license plate number M33-23P, organizers said.

Organizer Valarie Emery said several businesses and emergency workers are participating in various ways. Among other things, she is trying to get local businesses to change their signs to welcome Martin home. She is asking those who are interested in participating in the welcome-home ceremony on Monday to meet at New York Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike, or New York and Vermont avenues, or Vermont and Venus Road. [Read more…]

Guest column: State officials comment on death of Oak Ridge soldier

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Christopher Michael Ward

Christopher Michael Ward

Note: This is an edited copy of a Thursday announcement from the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder regretfully announce the loss of Tennessee soldier Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward of Oak Ridge.

Ward was fatally injured when his patrol was struck by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, which detonated on Saturday, April 6, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Ward was serving with Troop A, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, Fort Stewart, Ga.

The 24-year old soldier grew up in Arcadia, Fla. However, Ward moved to Tennessee with his mother, Joyce Ward, and attended Oak Ridge High School before earning his General Educational Development, or GED, diploma and enlisting in the United States Army in November 2006. [Read more…]

‘Grateful nation’ honors slain soldier who receives Purple Heart, Bronze Star

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Christopher Michael Ward Family at Funeral

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Bickham, second from right, of Fort Campbell, Ky., escorts Joyce Ward, right, of Oak Ridge, after a Saturday funeral for her oldest son, Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, who died in an April 6 explosion in Afghanistan. Also pictured are Christopher’s two younger brothers, Travis and Matthew.

For many of us, the war in Afghanistan—now the nation’s longest—is largely forgotten. We are consumed, most of the time, by our daily lives, working, paying bills, raising children, and having a little fun when we can.

But Joyce Ward of Oak Ridge will never forget. Her oldest son, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, 24, died in southern Afghanistan one week ago, the victim of an apparent suicide car bombing that also killed two other soldiers, a U.S. diplomat, and a Department of Defense civilian. They had been delivering donated books to children in Zabul province.

Christopher Michael Ward

Christopher Michael Ward

Ward was remembered and honored during a Saturday funeral at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge. In a celebration of his life that mixed occasional laughter with many tears, Ward received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal, as well as the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal.

The three medals were presented to his mother, Joyce Ward of Oak Ridge, in a ceremony with Gen. Jefforey Smith, commanding general of Fort Knox, Ky. Smith called Ward a man of character, a member of the small group of Americans who join the military. [Read more…]

Fallen soldier’s body escorted through Oak Ridge

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Salute to Christopher Michael Ward

Oak Ridge firefighters salute as Oak Ridge police and other law enforcement officers escort the body of U.S. Army soldier Christopher Michael Ward, 24, to Weatherford Mortuary. Ward died in southern Afghanistan on April 6. (Photo by Tom Scott)

Oak Ridge Police Department motorcycles and police cars helped escort the body of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, 24, from McGhee Tyson airport to Oak Ridge on Friday morning.

Ward, who was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on April 6, was taken to Weatherford Mortuary, where a receiving of friends starts at 10 a.m. Saturday before a 12 p.m. celebration of life.

Oak Ridge police had units stationed at intersections as Ward’s body was escorted through the city. Oak Ridge firefighters saluted as the hearse passed by Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue at about 10:30 a.m. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge to fly flags at half-staff Friday, Saturday to remember fallen soldier

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Flags at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building and city facilities will be flown at half-staff from noon Friday until sunset Saturday in honor of a solider killed in Afghanistan last week, City Manager Mark Watson said.

Funeral services for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, 24, start at 10 a.m. Saturday at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge. Ward’s mother lives in Oak Ridge, and he attended Oak Ridge High School before enlisting in the Army at 17. [Read more…]

Funeral service Saturday for Oak Ridge soldier killed in Afghanistan

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SSG Christopher Michael Ward

SSG Christopher Michael Ward

A Saturday funeral has been scheduled for an Oak Ridge soldier killed in southern Afghanistan by a suicide car bomber last weekend.

The funeral for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, 24, starts with a receiving of friends from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge.

A celebration of Chris’ life will follow at 12 p.m. Family and friends will have a chance to share their stories and memories of Chris. Full military honors will be provided.

Following the services, the family will welcome friends to their home in Oak Ridge, the obituary said. In keeping with Chris’ wishes, his body will be cremated. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge soldier killed in Afghanistan was a hero, died protecting others, mom says

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Christopher M. Ward Dignified Transfer

A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward of Oak Ridge during a dignified transfer ceremony on Monday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)

Note: This story was last updated April 10.

A chaplain and another military representative knocked on her door at about 10:35 p.m. Saturday.

Joyce Ward of Oak Ridge knew why there were there.

She learned that her son, Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 24, had died in southern Afghanistan on Saturday morning helping a diplomat and two other soldiers deliver books to children in Zabul province when their vehicle was hit by an explosion.

“He is a hero,” Joyce Ward said. “He gave his life. He put himself in the line of fire to protect others.” [Read more…]

Anderson Veterans Officer presents long-overdue medal

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Monday morning, Anderson County Veterans Service Officer Leon Jaquet and other officials gathered in his office in the Courthouse to present a long-overdue Purple Heart to the widow of a soldier wounded during World War II.

Former U.S. Army rifleman Louis Allison was wounded in Germany in early 1945 but never received his Purple Heart. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 80. [Read more…]