Family


Home Up

 

Chris' Dad

Chris was doing what I always wanted to do but never had the opportunity to do. I had always longed to be a soldier but because of hearing loss in one ear I was turned when I tried to enlist. I lived my dreams through Chris becoming such a special soldier.

We visited him every chance we could. We traveled to Fort Benning, Fort Campbell and Fort Bragg. We had the greatest vacation ever when we spent a week in Germany with Chris, Kelley and the kids . He took us to all the sites which included Dachau, Munich, and spending a day on a riverboat on the Rhine River. This was ten years ago this month.

Losing a child regardless of age is the most heartbreaking thing a parent can go through. My next door neighbor told me the morning Chris died that people who had lost brothers, sisters, mothers or fathers may tell you that they know how you feel but there is no comparison to losing a child.

Chris' Mom

Chris came into my life early on the morning of August 31, 1964. Chris was truly a blessing. Growing up Chris always had a special way of showing his love. Chris always had compassion and love for his family, older people and the under-privileged.

Chris joined the Army when he was only 16 on the deferred plan. He finished high school and left just before his eighteenth birthday. The day Chris left for Ft. Benning, Ga. for his basic training I felt that part of my heart went with him. Chris always served his country proudly.

Later in Chris life he was on leave when he met the love of his life Kelley. On March 21,1992 Chris and Kelley were married. As I watched them begin their lives together, I could see how much Chris loved Kelley and how proud he was to have her as his soul mate. As the kids came along Chris was just as proud and treated then in such a special way. Chris was a man of few words but he was respected because of the way he lived his life.

Chris religion was always a special part of his life. He didn't try to push his belief on his fellow soldiers and friends in his life. At his memorial service at Ft. Bragg his fellow soldier friends that did his eulogy was very touched by the way he lived his life. Chris probably touched more lives in his short life than he realized. Chris never sat at the table to have a meal without bowing his head in thanks, no matter who was present.

I looked forward for years to Chris retiring from the Army and moving back home. His dad, brother ,sister and I missed Chris and his family on special occasions because he was away so much of his adult life. We were looking forward to making up for lost time.

The night of June 27, 2005 at about 2:15 AM when I got that dreaded call from Kelley that Chris had died, the part of my heart that had followed Chris for so long died also.

As I sit here with tears in my eyes writing this I can honestly say Chris made me very PROUD and I miss him every minute of every day.

This is why we can keep all of special memories of Chris alive by running this race in his honor. I feel this is a small thing we are doing, because of the sacrifice Chris gave for his country to keep us free.

Chris' Brother

There were a lot of things I remember about Chris when we were younger , but what sticks out with me the most is the last Christmas they were home before leaving for Germany . Chris had bought Kelly a new ring and he was asking me if I thought she would like it , you could see in his eyes how much he truly loved her and wanted to make her happy. When he gave it to her , down on one knee , everyone started crying. It was great. The day they left , they were going to Atlanta to get on a plane and fly to Germany , and he forgot his Bible. He called my and ask me to next day air it to the address they were going to be at. That left such an impression about what kind of man he had grown up to be and what kind of husband and farther is was.

He is still very much missed his family , especially by Kelly , Ashton and Makenzie. There are other Special Forces families all over the us who are going through the same emotions and feelings of lose. Thanks to the efforts of the “Special Operations Warrior Fund” and the other fund raising events throughout the us , the concerns about the education of their children is one thing these parents will not have to worry about.

Chris' Sister

The things I remember most growing up with Chris were what an impression he made on everyone.  Whether it be in school, or just in simple day to day living.  He always had such a big heart & compassion.  I still see his teachers that still talk about what a great person he was.  Like any other person having siblings, we had our normal sibling disagreements.  And because Chris and I were closer in age I guess we probably had the most arguments.  They were mostly because I always wanted to hang around with him and he never wanted me to.  I took it as maybe I (as his younger sister) cramped his style? 

But something changed the day the he left for Basic Training in July 1982.  After Chris left home I gave birth to a son, and Chris was now an Uncle.  Every chance he got he would call or write making sure we were alright.  Always concerned if we needed anything.  It was amazing the change in him, it was like having a new brother I didn't know.  I contribute that to him leaving home as a teenager and now becoming a man.  With Chris being in the Army since graduating high school we didn't see a whole lot of each other but when we did  we made the best of our time together.  He never failed to call on special occasions and always knowing just what to say.

There are two special times that really stand out in my mind:

The first is Memorial Day weekend 2004 we went to Myrtle Beach for a long weekend, called Chris to see if he and his family would like to come to Myrtle Beach for the weekend.  They happen to be in the area so we met Chris & Kelley, Makenzie and Ashton for dinner, then played putt-putt, later went for  ice-cream, etc...  That is just something that didn't happen often, so I didn't want it to end. 

Then there was Christmas 2004:  Little did I know that it was going to be just as PRECIOUS.  Chris and his family were in town for Christmas on their way to Germany (for his 3 tour there).  Christmas Eve 13 years ago Chris had proposed to Kelley (with her family present).  While we were all together Christmas Eve this year Chris got down on one knee and presented Kelley with a beautiful new diamond and this amazing speech of how much he loved her.  There wasn't a dry eye in the room.  The next day they left for Atlanta where they were boarding a plane for Germany.  That was the last time I saw Chris.  Our lives were changed forever...........  To this day there isn't a day goes by that I don't think about him.  I miss him so much.

I always thought Chris was the best soldier there was.  That is just normal instinct, to be partial to your own.  But, after sitting through his funeral and Memorial service @ Fort Bragg.  I realize that I'm not the only one that feels that way.  I know that Chris touched so many lives during his short time on earth doing what he loved to do "Defending Our Country!"  The fact that the Special Forces thought enough of MSG Chris Keith to dedicate a training facility (in Germany) in his honor should tell you something about the kind of soldier he was.  That is why we have this 5K in MSG Chris Keith's honor so we can continue to take care of those left behind while losing their loved ones that are defending our country.