HARRISBURG, OR, USA U.S. Army SPC, HHC, 2D BATTALION, 3D INFANTRY, FORT LEWIS, WA 98433 MOSUL, IRAQ 05/08/2004
Chase Ryan Whitham was born in Seattle , Washington on August 22, 1982. He grew up on a farm in Harrisburg, Oregon and graduated from Marist High School in Eugene, Oregon in the year 2000.
Chase entered the service in 2002, attending army boot camp at Ft. Benning, Georgia. His first tour of duty was with Charlie Company of 1-506th, 3rd platoon, at Camp Greaves on the DMZ in Korea. He received a plaque for Outstanding Service at the end of his 2002-2003 year there.
His next post was Ft. Lewis, Washington and he deployed with the reconnaissance group of HHC, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment to Mosul, Iraq in November of 2003. He achieved the rank of specialist and died when was electrocuted in a swimming pool in Mosul, Iraq on May 8, 2004.
Chase lived life with great enthusiasm, wearing a brilliant smile, and working hard at everything he attempted. He loved his friends, family, sports, fishing, snowboarding, the great state of Alaska, and his home in Oregon. He has inspired many, and continues to do so.
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