 The Ledger -- LAKELAND -- Christian B. Williams, Chris to his friends and fellow workers at Hughes Supply in Winter Haven, loved the Marine Corps.
From his days at Lake Region High School in the Marine JROTC through re-enlistments, he was a dedicated Marine, rising to the rank of sergeant.
 On Saturday, Williams, 27, of Winter Haven, died in Iraq.
He, Lance Cpl. Anthony E. Butterfield, 19, of Clovis, Calif., and Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus, 28, of Wolf Creek, Mont., were killed during combat operations in Al Anbar province, the Department of Defense said in a release Tuesday. Baucus was the nephew of U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, DMontana.
The three were were assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based in Twentynine Palms, Calif.
The military release reporting Williams' death does not explain the depth of feeling he had for his country, the Marines and his family and friends, a close friend said.
"We have been friends for more than 13 years," said Derrick Lettau. "We were in Marine JROTC together at Lake Region." Williams was a platoon leader in the high school unit, as was Lettau.
Lettau, who left the Marines on a medical discharge two years ago, said he and Williams had served together briefly in North Carolina, but most of the time they were in different units.
Through the day Tuesday, customers at Hughes Supply learned the sad news.
Williams worked in the electrical section of the store during leaves and between stints in the service, said Lettau, who is a fulltime employee at Hughes.
Williams was the fifth member of the military with connections to Polk County to die in Iraq. Others are Army 2nd Lt. Charlie Rubado, Navy Petty Officer Ron Ginther, Army Spc. Jeremiah DiGiovanni and Marine Pvt. Nolen Hutchings. Civilian contractor Stephen Helvenston was killed in March 2004.
His parents, Jack and Lisa Williams of Winter Haven, declined to speak Tuesday until learning more about his death, said Lettau, who was acting as spokesman for the family. |
I would like to say thank you to you and the other Marines who were also killed in that blast for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
Semper Fi Devil Dog!