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CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Support
Activity 1 (SA-1) held a memorial service for Chief Cryptologic
Technician (Technical) (EXW/IDW/SW) Christian M. Pike at Naval
Amphibious Base Coronado, June 13, 2013.
Pike died March 12,
2013 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany as a result of
combat-related injuries sustained on March 10, 2013 while conducting
stability operations in the Maiwand District of Kandahar,
Afghanistan.
SAN DIEGO (June 13, 2013) Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus, commander of Naval Special Warfare, presents Diana Pike with a United States flag for her son Chief Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Christian M. Pike during a memorial service at Naval Special Warfare Support Activity One. Pike, 31, died March 12,
2013 in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of combat-related injuries sustained on March 10 while conducting stability operations in Maiwand
District, Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class Marc Rockwell-Pate) |
Addressing a crowd of more than 200 NSW members and
honored guests, Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus, commander, Naval
Special Warfare Command, talked about the outstanding
character and professionalism Pike exemplified to his fellow
service members.
"He was bright, fit,
motivated-exactly the type of person that you want as a
shipmate," said Pybus. "His technical skills and savvy
enabled his team to hunt down high level bad actors in
Afghanistan. He loved what he did."
"I have no words
to help ease the loss of Christian. Instead, I have
committed, and on behalf of Naval Special Warfare, to
remember him. You, his teammates, are obligated to honor his
precious life with persistent remembrance. Carry Christian
with you going forward; embrace this family as your own."
A courageous Diana Pike, the mother of Chief Pike, then
took the podium to talk about how her son became the man his
Team, friends and family came to love and respect.
"I taught them how to shoot guns and a bow, and how to camp
[and] how to do all the things I thought they might need,"
said Diana. "When I was cutting a palm tree once, I fell out
of the tree and impaled myself on my knife going down.
Christian duct taped it closed. That's just kinda who we
are. The three of us have had a great life, and we have had
a great deal of fun. I guess Christian is his mother's son."
Diana explained that although she is responsible for
setting her son on the path that led to March 10, she does
not feel guilty because that path was the one Chief Pike
fully embraced and loved.
"He led the life he chose.
He was so happy. And happiness is all any mother would want
for their children. I want to thank you all for making my
son so very happy," added Diana fighting back tears with
smiles. "He loved his job, he loved the Navy and he loved
his teammates."
Chief Pike's long time friend,
Cryptologic Technician (Collection) First Class (EXW) John
P. Goodson, spoke to Pike's character and how he was someone
he could look up to.
"We started in training
together the exact same day. I was very competitive with him
because not only was he a big, tough guy he was [also]
incredibly intelligent," said Goodson. "As much as I wanted
to out-perform him, I had to admit at the end of the day I
had so much to learn from him. Chris was there to rein me
in. He was just that kind of guy. He knew how to get the
best out of someone [and] how to make someone the best
version of their self."
SAN DIEGO (June 13, 2013) Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus, commander of Naval Special Warfare, presents Diana Pike with a Bronze Star with Valor posthumously awarded to her son Chief Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Christian M. Pike during a memorial service at Naval Special Warfare Support Activity One. Pike, 31, died March 12,
2013 in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of combat-related injuries sustained on March 10 while conducting stability operations in Maiwand
District, Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class Marc Rockwell-Pate) |
For his heroic achievement in connection with combat operations
against the enemy, Chief Pike was posthumously awarded the Bronze
Star with Valor. He is the first SA-1 service member to be killed
while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
By Naval Special Warfare Group ONE Public Affairs
Navy News Service
Copyright 2013
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