Spc. Christopher A. Landis, 27, of Independence, died Feb. 10, on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from wounds received when the enemy attacked his dismounted patrol with a rocket propelled grenade in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan.

Christopher Andrew Landis ("Drew") was born October 28, 1986 to Edward and Carol Jeanne Landis in Jakarta, Indonesia. Drew was the younger brother to Adrian and the older brother to Ted and Andrea. Growing up, Drew enjoyed reading, playing baseball and basketball and adventures with siblings and friends through the hills surrounding the Landis' home in Independence, Kentucky.

Drew was home schooled by his mother through 10th grade. Drew graduated in 2004 from Calvary Christian School. He attended a Discipleship Training School through Youth With a Mission in Colorado, with a missions outreach in India. He worked with Samaritan's Purse in the tsunami relief in Sumatra in 2005. Drew attended Grove City College, and sold books door-to-door with Southwest Book Company in the summers. Drew graduated in 2009 with a degree in History. He attended one year of law school at Salmon Chase School of Law prior to joining the Army in 2011. He continued his sense of adventure through mountaineering in the lower 48 states.

Landis, who spoke Arabic, was a cryptologic linguist. The Army says a cryptologic linguist is "primarily responsible for identifying foreign communications using signals equipment."

Landis was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C. He enlisted in March 2011 and took linguistic training before he was deployed to Afghanistan last fall.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.