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SSG Christopher Neal Piper of Marblehead, Massachusetts, died June 16, 2005 in Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas from injuries sustained on June 3, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle in Orgun-E, Afghanistan. SSG Piper was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC.

SSG Piper was critically injured on June 3rd while with SFODA 731. Two U.S. soldiers with whom Piper was traveling with also died. He was treated in Afghanistan and then transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for additional medical treatment. He then was sent to Brooke Army Medical Center for further treatment.

Piper graduated from Marblehead High School in 1980 where he was an honors student. He served as the captain of the football team and played catcher on the baseball team.

After graduation from high school he entered the Marine Corps on September 30, 1980 where he served for several years. While in the Marine Corps he became part of a scout sniper platoon and was deployed to the Middle East with the 3/8th Marines. He was stationed in Beirut, Lebanon in the early 1980s. Upon leaving active service with the Marine Corps he served in the Marine Corps Reserve with the 1/25th Marines. For a period of years he operated a carpentry business.

Chris entered the Army on April 17, 1995. SSG Piper served in Company C 1st Battalion 20th Special Forces Group (Massachusetts Army National Guard) from 1999 to 2004. He deployed to Afghanistan with 20th SFGA in 2002-2003. While deployed with SFODA 2033 in Afghanistan he earned the bronze star with valor after his detachment was ambushed on March 12, 2003 in the Pakita Province of Afghanistan.

Upon his return from Afghanistan in 2003 with 20th SFGA he decided to return to active duty serving with several units until his assignment with the 7th Special Forces Group in September 2004.

His awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

On June 23rd, 2005 the city of Marblehead, Massachusetts renamed their high school football field after Chris Piper. When Chris attended school in Marblehead he was a captain of the 1979 football team.

SSG Piper was 43 years old. Piper is the son of Ernest W. Piper Jr. and the late Helen Piper. He leaves behind his wife who is living at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He also leaves behind two children, Dierdre, 13, and Christopher, 12 of Marblehead, Massachusetts.