Christopher A. Horns
Private First Class, U.S. Army

Christopher A. Horns was born on 10 November 1990 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Chris enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 2010. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, GA, as an Infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, also at Fort Benning. Following graduation from that program, Horns was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, in March 2011 and was deployed to Afghanistan as an assistant machine gunner and automatic rifleman.

Private First Class Horns was killed in action on Saturday, 22 October 2011, when the assault force he was with triggered a hidden roadside bomb in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province. Also killed in the blast were First Lieutenant Ashley White, age 24, and fellow Ranger Sergeant First Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, age 29, who was on his 14th combat deployment.

Medals and Awards

Purple Heart (Awarded posthumously)
Army Commendation Medal for Combat Service (Awarded posthumously)
Army Commendation Medal for Peacetime Service (Awarded posthumously)
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (Awarded posthumously)
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon

Badges

Combat Infantryman Badge (Awarded posthumously)
Parachutist Badge
U.S. Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge

Death and Burial

Private First Class Christopher A. Horns was killed in action on Saturday, 22 October 2011 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He is buried at Calmar Lutheran Church Cemetery, Calmar, Winneshiek County, IA.