Meis, Christopher Steele
Male
Verified Lance Corporal Christopher Steele Meis, 20, of Bennett, Colorado, was a U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. He was killed in action in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 17, 2011.
Their Story
Christopher Steele Meis was a 20-year-old Marine from Bennett, Colorado, a small town on the plains east of Denver. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, part of the 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His service included deployments to the Philippines and the Horn of Africa before his unit was sent to Afghanistan.
On March 17, 2011, Lance Corporal Meis was killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, a volatile region in southern Afghanistan. The Department of Defense stated his death was the result of hostile action. He was one of two Marines from his battalion killed that day; the other was Lance Corporal Joe M. Jackson.
Meis died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2011, the war's focus had shifted to a counterinsurgency strategy, with Helmand province being a primary battleground against Taliban forces. The 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines was part of a regimental combat team operating in the province during a period of intense fighting.
His death was reported by national and local news outlets. The Denver Post noted his passing, and his name was added to the growing list of casualties from Colorado. The Marine Corps notified his family and released the official announcement.
Lance Corporal Meis is remembered on memorials including the Afghanistan War Memorial at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and the online 'Faces of the Fallen' project. His name is inscribed on Panel 32W, Line 75 of the Afghanistan Veterans Memorial Wall in Colorado Springs.
Explore Further
Lance Corporal Meis was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
