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HM2 Christopher Walsh

(reprinted from KSDK.com, September 5, 2006)

St. Louis City EMT Killed in Iraq

A man who dedicated himself to saving lives, lost his life in Iraq. Before joining the Navy, Christopher Walsh spent several years as an emergency medical technician in St. Louis.

Walsh, 30, was continuing his medical training as a corpsman assigned to a Marine detachment. His convoy was struck by a roadside bomb on September 4th and his injuries proved to be fatal.

Tuesday night, friends and co-workers mourned his loss. At the St. Louis Fire Department, black bunting adorned the building and flags were lowered to half-staff.

Friend Mark Rauss remembers their last conversation before Walsh deployed.

"I told him, personally speaking, I would pray for him and hope that he came back safe. And unfortunately those prayers were not answered.

"He was an honorable person. He served all of us honorably and he died for a cause that he believed in."

The news of Walsh's death has been hardest on those who knew him best. Timothy Kirchoff worked as Walsh's partner for four years.

"He was the best partner I ever had and a very good friend. I'm going to miss him dearly."

He describes Walsh as easy-going, hard-working and the kind of guy who could make anyone feel comfortable.

"He'd give you the shirt off his back. He'd do anything for you."

Funeral arrangements are still being finalized, but they will likely be in Overland Park, where Chris was raised. Most of his family still lives there.

Friends hope to also have a memorial service in St. Louis.

Walsh had worked as an EMT since April 2001.