Because They Have Names

No. 191-06

March 4, 2006

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier... and so it goes.....

Spc. Christopher S. Merchant, 32, of Hardwick, Vt., died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on March 1, when his HMMWV came under attack by enemy forces using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade. Merchant was assigned to the Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, Jericho, Vt.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

Burlington Free Press Article on Spc. Merchant

...Merchant leaves a wife, Monica, and four children, ages 14, 11, 10 and 9. Through the Guard, the family requested privacy. Monica Merchant, whom officers told of her husband's death late Wednesday, issued a statement Thursday afternoon.

"Chris was a loving and devoted husband and father. He was the type of father that tucked his children into bed every night, played basketball with his children for countless hours, reminded them to say grace before dinner, encouraged education and volunteered to go to Iraq with the hope that he could make a difference so his son would not one day have to go to war," she said. "He is our hero." 'He wanted to go'