SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI, USA U.S. Army SPC, COMPANY G, 2D BRIGADE SUPPORT BATTALION, FORT CARSON, CO BAGHDAD, IRAQ 07/14/2007
Specialist Christopher Kube enjoyed riding his dirt bike and often rode cross-country events. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting. Friends and family note that Christopher showed everyone what it meant to be strong and faced an uphill battle most of his life, often himself making it difficult. Friends and family note that he needed to learn discipline and how to take orders. He completed his GED, but was scared about getting a job after his high school years. When he was 16 years old he knew he wanted to go into the Army.
Chris’s Dad, in Fraser, Michigan and his Mom in Flint, Michigan had always recognized the struggles Chris had as the oldest of four kids and not fitting in to a structured society environment in their Shelby Township, Michigan.
Chris’s parents admit he had a rough time growing up, but they were extremely proud of him when he graduated at the top of his class at the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy, and had demonstrated strong leadership skills. Their pride continued as he served his country in Baghdad. Born on Sept. 7, 1988, in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Christopher Kube enlisted on Oct. 25, 2005, just making the minimum legal age of 17 for joining the military.
His parents were proud of him as well for all of the challenges he stood up to and overcame and during boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and across his short service career. Chris saw the opportunities associated with military service and sought to make a better future for himself. Chris’s Army training resulted in him becoming a truck driver. While in Colorado at Fort Carson, he met and married his girlfriend Tianna.
Chris was a gunner in the Army, and was very proud of that. Specialist Kube was assigned to G Company , 2nd Brigade Support Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. Back at his home station, Fort Carson, Colorado, he often drew attention for being so young, so short, so slight and so cheerful. On July 14, 2007 Specialist Kube, was killed by an improvised explosive device which struck his vehicle. He had been in Iraq only 13 months and had volunteered to go on the mission in which he was killed. His best friend was on a truck behind Chris’s.
At the time of his death, Chris had four siblings; a brother Jonathan, 15; twins Jessica and Jason, 12; and sister, Jennifer, 9.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm ordered that United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters be lowered in Chris’s honor.