Army Maj. Christopher J. Splinter
Death: Dec 24, 2003
of Platteville Wis. assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion 1st Engineer Brigade based in Fort Leonard Wood Mo. killed while in a vehicle that was struck by an improvised explosive device on Dec. 24 near Samarra Iraq. In a Christmas letter to his parents Maj. Christopher J. Splinter said he believed the U.S. efforts in Iraq were progressing slowly but in a positive direction. “We will be successful but must dig in our heals for the long term” Splinter wrote. “Ten years from now Iraq will be the show state in the Middle East. This is dependent on America not losing hope and forcing the army to depart early.” Splinter43 of Platteville Wis. Died Dec. 24 near Samarra Iraq when the vehicle he was in hit a homemade bomb. He was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood Mo. Fort Leonard Wood’s Col. Paul Kelly visited Splinter’s 5th Engineer Battalion in Iraq about two months before Splinter Died and the men talked with pride about rebuilding six schools and repairing other infrastructure ripped apart by the war. “I remember sitting down with Maj. Splinter and discussing the operation” Kelly said. “We talked about his family. He also expressed pride in being able to serve his country.” Splinter joined the ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1986. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1990 and went on active duty as an engineer. He is survived by his wife Penny — who had been his high school sweetheart — and their children 13-year-old Mitchell and 10-year-old Rachel. — Associated Press Operation Iraqi Freedom