Dedication to the fallen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Camilla Griffin
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz., --  When U.S. Army Specialist Christopher Moon was a young child, he dreamed of becoming a U.S. soldier and always wanted to be a sniper. He did not have anyone in his immediate family who served, but knew distant family members who served in the armed forces.

Marsha Moon, Christopher Moon's mother, said he was a very active child and enjoyed being outdoors. Christopher Moon was into BMX biking and baseball as a child. He was a gifted athlete and usually the youngest players on his teams. He was a very talented kid, and whatever he didn't have in raw talent he made up for with his work ethic and great attitude. Christopher Moon loved being around people and always thought things through.

Marsha Moon is very grateful for the moments she got to spend with her son.
"He was a really amazing son," she said.

Christopher Moon received several awards for his athleticism. In 2006, he was named Southern Arizona High School Player of the Year. In 2008, he received a baseball the scholarship to University of Arizona and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves.

In his first year of college, he decided he no longer wanted to play baseball or go to school. He decided to join the U.S. Army. Before he attended U of A, Christopher Moon asked his parents to sign waivers for him to join because he was under the age of 18.
His parents asked him to try school first, so he did.

His mom said he was a humble person. He didn't brag about his athletic abilities, the fact that he was drafted by a major league baseball team straight out of high school or even that he received an offer for a full ride to U of A.

Once Christopher Moon turned 18, he sat his parents down and told them he was going to join the Army, but he wanted to do so with their blessing. Moon became a sniper, just as he'd planned, within his first year in the Army. He achieved a perfect score in training.

Before every mission Christopher Moon would call his parents to tell them he would be going on a mission and they wouldn't hear from him for a while. He let his family know he was being shot at on a daily basis.

"My husband and I had a sit-down talk about the 'what if' and we had to accept the possibility of something happening to him," said Marsha Moon. "Also, being a faithful Christian, I had a talk with Chris about if the Lord wanted to take him home, that it was his time, and that I accept that. We were very honest and open about the possibilities."

Christopher Moon, a Tucson native, died as a result of wounds sustained when he stepped on a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2010.

His comrades were very grateful for him. He was the youngest of the crew, but he was very aware of what was going on. They admitted he saved their lives on several occasions.

"When he got hit, he said let me go. You guys go you have families," said Marsha Moon.
On May 20 the Midvale Park Neighborhood Association, the Tucson Unified School District, the City of Tucson, Pima County and countless friends throughout the community, dedicated the multi-use field in Grijalva Park in honor of Christopher J. Moon.
The field is used by the same elementary school Christopher Moon attended as a child, where he had perfect attendance from first through fifth grade.

Marsha Moon, is very proud to see the community recognizing veterans and is happy to know that the young children of the community are learning about the sacrifices our veterans make.

The baseball field will have a mural and a fountain in the name of Moon.

Tucson High School has retired Christopher Moon's number, 11, and is working on funding a life size bronze sculpture of him for their baseball field.