Army Cpl. Christopher J. Nelson

Died November 18, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

---

22, of Rochester, Wash.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Nov. 18 in Balad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated during a mounted patrol. Also killed were Pfc. Marius L. Ferrero and Cpl. Jason T. Lee.

---

Rochester, Wash., soldier killed in Iraq, family says

The Associated Press

CENTRALIA, Wash. — An Army soldier from Rochester in southwest Washington has reportedly been killed in Iraq.

The family of Spc. Christopher J. Nelson tells The Chronicle in Centralia that he was killed Nov. 18.

Family members say the 22-year-old was a 2003 graduate of Rochester High School and deployed this summer from Fort Lewis.

Nelson’s father, John Nelson, says his son was on his second tour in Iraq.

Christoper Nelson married Angela Marquez about two years ago, and her father, Leo Marquez, says the family was notified of his death Nov. 18.

Specifics of his death are not immediately available. The military has said three Army soldiers were killed in Baqubah, Iraq, on Nov. 18 while handing out toys to children.

---

Three more soldiers from Fort Lewis die in Iraq

The Associated Press

FORT LEWIS, Wash. — Three Stryker brigade soldiers have been killed in Iraq, reportedly while giving toys to children, bringing total losses from this military post near Tacoma to eight soldiers in less than a week.

The latest casualties, confirmed in an Army statement Nov. 20, were Cpl. Christopher J. Nelson, 22, of Rochester, south of Olympia; Cpl. Jason T. Lee, 26, of Fruitport, Mich.; and Pfc. Marius Ferrero, 23, of Miami.

All were members of the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and died No. 18 when an improvised explosive device was detonated in Baqubah.

Eight soldiers from Fort Lewis have died in Diyala province in six days

Leo Marquez, Nelson’s father-in-law, and other relatives said all three soldiers died in a previously reported attack as they were distributing toys and other gifts to children at a playground. At least three children also died and seven were wounded.

Nelson was “just a goodhearted guy” who played football in high school, enjoyed riding all-terrain vehicles and was drawn to children, often ignoring other adults in favor of playing with younger brother, sisters, nieces and nephews, Marquez said.

“He just wanted to serve his country and he believed in what was going on,” Marquez said.