Army Spc. Christopher A. Golby

Died January 8, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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26, of Johnstown, Pa.; was assigned to the 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) based in Fort Carson, Colo.; killed Jan. 8 while on board a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when it crashed during a Medevac mission in Fallujah, Iraq.

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Four days before he died in Iraq, Spc. Christopher A. Golby talked with his parents via Web camera.

“He was laughing. He was joking. It was great,” said his father, Ronald Golby of Johnstown, Pa. “He loved his job. He loved to fly. I’m proud of him.”

Ronald and Dawn Golby had gotten to see their son for a week in November, and were looking forward to his return home in March. Golby, 26, was killed Jan. 8 when a Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter went down near Fallujah, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Carson, Colo.

Christopher Golby planned to become a pilot when he left the military, although his father said he thought of fostering his interest in computers and persuading him to work at his business in nearby Richland.

“He was always there to help me,” Ronald Golby said. Survivors also include his wife, Sonya, and sons Dylan and Sean.

— Associated Press