Staff Sgt. Rusty Hunter Christian

Died: Jan. 28, 2010

KINGSPORT -- Staff Sgt. Rusty Hunter Christian, 24, a U.S. Special Forces soldier, of Fort Lewis, Orting, Wash., formerly of Greeneville, died Thursday, Jan. 28, in Afghanistan, from wounds suffered in an improvised explosive devise (IED) blast.

Staff Sgt. Christian, a Green Beret, had been stationed at Camp Cobra in Afghanistan since the first week of January.

He was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, Wash., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was Christian's second deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Feb. 4, 2004. Upon completion of basic training and advanced individual training, he was assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, at Fort Lewis as an infantryman.

In 2008, Christian volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in August 2009. He was then assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, at Fort Lewis as a SF engineer sergeant.

His military education also included the U.S. Army Airborne School, Advanced Leaders Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Combat Life Savers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Defense Language Institute Indonesian Course and the Special Forces Qualification Course.

Christian's awards and decorations included two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2 device, Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Valorous Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Citation, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge and the Special Forces tab.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Survivors include his loving wife: Amber Walker Christian; his daughter: Taylor Christian, and his son: Gavin Christian, all of the home; his parents: Jim and Donna Morelock Ball of Kingsport, and his father: Michael Christian of Mountain City; a brother and sister-in-law: Aaron and Danielle Christian of Gray; his grandparents: J.D. and Joan Ball of Kingsport; his "favorite" aunt: Debra Culbertson; and two special cousins: Jeremy Culbertson and Laura Templeton.

A reception for his family and friends will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at the MeadowView Conference Center in Kingsport.

Remembrances of Staff Sgt. Christian will be offered by members of his military unit starting at 6 p.m. That will be followed by a song and a eulogy by his brother, Michael Aaron Christian.

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. The date and time to be announced later.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Tennessee Bank, 1101 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport, TN 37660.

Carter-Trent funeral Home, downtown Kingsport, is in charge of arrangements.