Army Specialist Christian D. Ward
Christian was born on the 26 January 1996 in Marietta, Ohio. He attended Fort Frye Local Schools from 2003-2012. After his family relocated to North Carolina, he graduated from West Iredell High School in 2015. He was a member of the ROTC program and was on the Raider Team. It was that experience that led him to join the Army. He entered Basic Training with the United States Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on 21 July 2015. He entered as a soldier of the 165th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Battalion, and 39th Infantry Regiment.
Chris graduated Basic Training on 02 October 2015; he continued to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Eustis, Virginia as a 15 Tango UH- 60 Black Hawk repairer and graduated on 18 February 2016. He was then sent to his duty station at Fort Carson, Colorado on 08 March 2016 and was selected for additional training at Fort Rucker, Alabama for Advanced Aviation Life Support (ALSE). On 03 August 2018, he was the only soldier sent from his Battalion for that specialized training.
Chris was deployed to Romania and Bulgaria for unilateral trading at "NOVO SELO" training area. He participated in Operation Platinum and Thracian Sword. In addition, Chris completed 200 hours of flight, 70 hours of night vision, and crewed 125 hours. It was in Romania that he displayed his selfless character and dedication to others: he spent 80 hours, more than nine weekends of personal time, at a nearby orphanage. Chris' mentoring and acting as a role model left his impression there, as he fixed broken bicycles and left innumerable gifts which included a new collection of books. He also left a lasting impression of the 4th CAB and the United States Military. For this dedication, Chris received two Army Commendations with oak leafs. Chris was promoted to Specialist advanced to crew chief; his military awards include the following: Aviation Badge, Army Good Conduct Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, Army Service the Ribbon, Army Commendation Ribbon with Oak leaf cluster, and Global war on terrorism ribbon.
Christian's death was on 28 June 2019, but part of him lives on as he gave the ultimate gift of life as an organ donor. We have received two letters from people who received his organs. One came from the mother of a seventeen year old who received his heart. Another letter came from a United States Veteran who received Chris' liver and one kidney. Another unknown person also received a kidney. We believe the selfless actions Christian displayed at the age of twenty three far surpass most people; without his forethought, other lives would have been lost with his death.
In 2020, our family established the Army Specialist Christian Ward Memorial Scholarship Fund. Our goal is to help high school students who are entering the United States Military with scholarships that are designed to help each recruit with expenses that they may encounter.
Requirements: The applicant must submit an essay of 400 words or more and the Applicant Information sheet (linked below). The essay must include an explanation as to why the applicant wants to join the military, what the military means to them, and how the scholarship will help them. The applicant must be working with a recruiter of any branch of the United States military. They must also have taken and passed the ASVAB Test. Students must have plans to enter active duty or the National Guard.
Deadline: March 31, 2024
Printed essay and Applicant Information sheet should be mailed to: P.O. Box 123 Lowell, Ohio 45744
The Army Specialist Christian D. Ward Memorial Scholarship Fund is a component of Marietta Community Foundation and therefore exempt from Federal Income Tax under IRS Code Section 501 (C)(3). Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to: P.O. Box 77, Marietta, Ohio 45750.