Christopher Griffin
Specialist, United States Army
April 10, 1985 – October 3, 2009
Age – 24
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Operation Enduring Freedom
3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO
Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fire.
Sgt. Christopher T. Griffin of Kincheloe, Michigan grew up in Kincheloe where he liked to spend time around the fire hall with his grandfather and father. He was a 2004 graduate of Rudyard Area Schools where he was involved in varsity wrestling. There was never any question about what Christopher would do after high school. From the time he was a young boy, he talked about the military and enjoyed computer gaming. Just three weeks after high school graduation, he began basic training in the United States Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Christopher had served in South Korea, in Iraq in 2006-2007 and was most recently stationed out of Fort Carson, Colorado. Christopher was also a proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
On Oct 3, 2009 Griffin was killed in action during the Battle of Kamdesh. The bravery of those soldiers was first told in Jake Tapper’s book “The Outpost” and now in the movie of the same name.
“Honored and humbled, those are the two words that stick out in my mind,”his mother Kerri Koster said. “It’s like you’re excited but then you remember why the movie is being made and what all transpired during the battle.”
Griffin is portrayed on screen by Alexander Arnold. “We spoke on the phone on a couple of occasions, so he could get the feel of how Christopher was,” Koster said. “He’s a very nice young man and he did a great job at portraying Christopher.”
Last October, Koster attended an early screening of the film. It was an experience that was tough for her to describe. “Going back to the scenes where Christopher perished, it was kind of heartbreaking.” Koster said. “I remember watching it and I wasn’t breathing because I knew it was coming.”
