Celiz, Christopher Andrew
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Christopher Andrew Celiz, 32, of Summerville, South Carolina, died on July 12, 2018, in Paktia Province, Afghanistan, from hostile fire.
Their Story
Sergeant First Class Christopher Andrew Celiz was a soldier assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. A native of Summerville, South Carolina, he was 32 years old at the time of his death. He had enlisted in the Army in 2007 and had deployed multiple times to both Afghanistan and Iraq during his service.
On July 12, 2018, Celiz was part of a U.S. and Afghan force conducting a counterterrorism operation in Paktia Province. According to U.S. military reports, the unit came under enemy small arms fire. During the engagement, Celiz was mortally wounded while moving a wounded comrade to a medical evacuation helicopter. He reportedly positioned himself between the enemy and the aircraft, enabling the evacuation to proceed.
Celiz died during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan that succeeded the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat mission in 2015. The operation focused on counterterrorism and training Afghan forces. Paktia Province, bordering Pakistan, was a known area of insurgent activity.
Following his death, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the incident. He was posthumously promoted from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant First Class. His body was returned to the United States, and a memorial service was held at Hunter Army Airfield.
In August 2018, Celiz was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest award for valor. The citation stated his actions saved the life of the wounded partner force member and protected the evacuation crew. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.
Explore Further
Celiz, Christopher Andrew was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (ongoing since January 2015). The conflict is ongoing. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Golden, Jonathan Joseph, Gonzalez, Jose Juan, Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael.
