Christopher Sroka
Private First Class, United States Army
January 18, 1991 – September 14, 2012
Age – 21
Warren, MI
Company B, 115th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX
Died in an apartment fire at Ft. Hood, Texas the night before he was to deploy to Afghanistan
Born in Warren, MI, Christopher was an alumnus of Fitzgerald High School. He was in the Army for nearly a year, stationed at Fort Hood as a vehicle mechanic. He died in an apartment fire on Sept. 14, 2012, the day before he was supposed to be deployed overseas.
PFC Christopher Sroka lived by the quote ‘One Day at a Time’. He was always living life to the fullest and never let an opportunity pass by that he could be making memories. Christopher loved cars…he would work on them, flip them, race them…anything vehicle related brought him happiness. When he left the world, he left a huge hole in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. He is remembered for his hugs, his smiles, and his want to make a difference in the world.
Christopher changed so many lives when he was alive, even those he didn’t know about. Lt Col J. Bradley Swift summed Chris up perfectly. He said, “By all accounts, he was a soldier’s soldier. This means that at a young age, he conducted himself in the tradition of soldiers from decades past. He was respectful, reserved and humble, completely devoid of selfishness.”
Christopher was part of Co B, 115th BSB, 1st BCT, 1st Cavalry Division as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. PCF Sroka was proud to wear the uniform and wouldn’t hesitate to make sure that others were 100%. Capt. Kevin McCarty (Chaplin 115th, BSB, 1BCT, 1st Cal Div) stated that he was “not surprised that Christopher Sroka volunteered to join the Army. In the short time that he was here, it became evident that he contained the one ingredient most important in a Soldier. He had an eager servant’s heart.”
He was such a dedicated soldier that he received his first promotion in basic training. Just before Christopher passed, he helped complete a more functional area by constructing offices for the company’s training room and where the superiors could have their own space. They have since named that conference room “PFC Christopher Sroka Memorial Conference Room”. Christopher never made it to combat but just before he perished in an apartment fire, he was doing his one last check to prepare for rapid deployment.
For many, their car is a prized possession. For Mark Sroka, his 2004 Grand Prix GTP is much more than that.
It is a homage to his son, the late U.S. Army Private First Class (PFC) Christopher Sroka, who was part of Company B, 115th BSB, 1st BCT, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, TX.
“This car originally belonged to my son,” said Mark. “I can’t put into words how much this means to me and to my family,” said Mark. “I’m very proud of my son. I always will be.”
Alongside Christopher’s friends, Mark restored the Grand Prix when he was ready. The majority of parts were donated. He worked with Graphik Concepts in Farmington Hills to design a wrap – a digitally printed vinyl covering – transforming the car in honor of Christopher.
The driver’s side of the Grand Prix is dedicated to Christopher’s time in the Army. It includes a photo of him in uniform against a background of stars and stripes and the words “In Loving Memory.” The passenger side represents Christopher’s civilian life, with an image of him wearing his soccer gear, accompanied by the words “Loving Son and Brother.”
The hood is emblazoned with artwork depicting a rifle sticking in the ground with a helmet on its stock and dog tags hanging from the magazine, next to a pair of combat boots – symbolically called a “battlefield cross” – along with an eagle, an American flag, and the phrase, “Home of the Free, Because of the Brave.” On the rear windshield, the saying “One Day at a Time,” which Christopher had tattooed on his chest, is inscribed, with a graphic of military dog tags hanging from the text. The phrase, “All Gave Some, Some Gave All,” is inscribed on the rear bumper.
“My family was so overwhelmed when we saw this for the first time,” said Mark. “It means so much.”
HFC joins the tribute to a fallen soldier
HFC student Nina Denny served in the United States Air Force (USAF) for 13 years and is the president of HFC’s Student Veterans Association (SVA). She first met Mark on the anniversary of Christopher’s death at the Flower Peddler in Clinton Township near Resurrection Cemetery, where Christopher is interred. Mark was driving the customized Grand Prix, which caught Denny’s attention.
“We started talking about the car and what it meant for him and his son. They were supposed to rebuild this car together after he returned from his deployment. Instead, he rebuilt Chris’ car as ‘their’ project. He has made it his mission to take the Grand Prix to car shows and events (including the Woodward Dream Cruise), where he shows it off to represent his son and his memory.”
Denny was touched by this and suggested for the College’s Veterans Day Commemoration that HFC shares his story and creates a video. Gail Bock of the HFC Office of Veterans Services was happy to support the project.
“Working with HFC SVA advisor Bob James and Student Activities Officer Cassandra Fluker, we supported Nina 100% on this endeavor. She shared the story of her chance encounter with Mr. Sroka, and the idea to commemorate fallen warriors took the lead. It is a great way to pay tribute to one of our fallen on Veterans Day,” said Bock.