Christopher I. Walz

Walz, Christopher Ian 25 06/03/1984 10/27/2009 Pfc. Christopher Ian Walz, 25, of Company C, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash., passed away Oct. 27, 2009, in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, while serving to protect his country. 

Born in Vancouver June 3, 1984, Ian graduated from Hudson's Bay High School in 2002 and received an associate degree from Clark County College in 2007. Ian was employed at Winco Foods in Vancouver until he joined the U.S. Army on Sept. 4, 2008. He completed the Vancouver Police Cadet Program and had planned on attending Washington State University in Vancouver upon his expiration term of service. He wanted to obtain a degree in history or criminal justice, as he expressed a desire to have a fulfilling career as a history teacher or a law enforcement officer in the Vancouver area. Ian was quite positive that his military experience would be helpful to both career paths. 

Ian was deployed to Afghanistan in July of 2009. He was killed along with six fellow soldiers from Fort Lewis Oct. 27, 2009, in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan. 

Ian received the following awards for his service in Afghanistan: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and a Good Conduct Medal. 

Ian was proud to serve his country and loved the Fourth of July. He supported President Obama and would be honored to know that he met his plane at Dover Air Force Base as he flew into the United States from Afghanistan, attended the dignified transfer of the soldiers from the plane to American soil and spoke with all of the family members of the fallen soldiers. 

Ian is survived by his mother, Victoria Walz; former wife, Katrina Walz; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; and many close friends, including his best friend, Pfc. Angel Almanza, who volunteered to be Ian's escort and travel with him from Dover Air Force Base to Portland Air National Guard Base. 

Ceremony arrangements will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, in the Portland Air National Guard Base, 6801 N.E. Cornfoot Rd., Portland, OR 97218, at the Pavilion. A reception will follow in the gym. There will be a closed casket visitation from 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 N.E. 112th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684. Both will be open to the public. All veterans, community and those that knew Ian are encouraged to attend, as Ian loved being with friends and family.