Army Staff Sgt. Christopher F. Cabacoy

Died July 5, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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30, of Virginia Beach, Va.; assigned to 1st Squadron, 71st Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died July 5 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed in the attack was Army Pfc. Edwin C. Wood.

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Staff sergeant remembered for his sense of humor

The Associated Press

Christopher Cabacoy was distraught when he and his high school sweetheart, Tamara, broke up.

But he did everything he could to get her back — and he did. “And they’ve been a great family ever since,” said his friend, Eddie Las Marias, who grew up with Cabacoy.

The couple had a son together, Aidan.

Cabacoy, 30, of Virginia Beach, Va. was killed July 5 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when a homemade bomb exploded near his vehicle. He was assigned to Fort Drum. He graduated from Tallwood High School in 1997 and studied engineering at Old Dominion University before joining the Army in 2000.

Cabacoy was known as a jokester who had a great sense of humor. His friend Jacki Harris said she named her son after him — except it was spelled “Kristopher.” When Cabacoy found out, he had a joking, smart-alecky response. Which was exactly what she expected.

“He said, ‘What, you couldn’t think of a more original name?’” she said.

In his final posting on Facebook before he was killed, Cabacoy was optimistic despite what he said was a “hard month.”

“... to my love tami ... i love you and can’t wait to see you ... aidan, keep growing and be good!”