Army Major CHRISTOPHER J. SPLINTER 1960-2003

AMES, SPLINTER, BARTON, BECK, DEFORE, WITHROW, PAULUS

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/24/2004 at 21:17:16

Christopher J. Splinter

Telegraph Herald - Dec 31, 2003

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - Army Major Christopher J. Splinter, 43, of Waynesville, Mo., formerly of Platteville, died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003, in Iraq.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Platteville, with the Rev. Charles Schluter officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Platteville, where military rites will be accorded. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church. The Bendorf Funeral Home, Platteville, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Splinter worked as a mechanic for a while at CB&C in Cuba City.

He was born on Oct. 9, 1960, in Dubuque, son of Virgil and Barbara (Ames) Splinter. He married Penny Barton on June 7, 1985, at the Platteville United Methodist Church.

He graduated from Platteville High School in 1979, and in 1990, he received a degree in business administration and joined the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

He was first enlisted in the 389th Dubuque Reserves until he became a commissioned officer in 1989 as a second lieutenant. His most recent duty station was with the 5th Engineers in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, card playing and spending time with his children and family.

Surviving are his wife, Penny, of Waynesville; two children, Mitchell and Rachel, of Waynesville; his parents, Virgil and Barbara Splinter, of Platteville; four brothers, Tim Splinter, of Stoughton, Michael Splinter, of Lancaster, Daniel (Cheryl) Splinter, of Oconomowoc, and Mark Splinter, of St. Petersburg, Fla.; seven sisters, Cathy (Brian) Beck, of Rockford, Ill., Cheryl Splinter, of Madison, Ann (Gary) DeFore, of Fort Sill, Okla., Janice (Jim) Withrow and Therese Splinter, both of Platteville, Rose Splinter, of St. Petersburg, and Karen (Mike) Paulus, of Janesville; his father and mother-in-law, Richard and Mary Barton, of Platteville; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to the Christopher J. Splinter Children's Educational Fund, c/o Clare Bank.

Telegraph Herald - Dec 26, 2003

   
Platteville man dies in Iraq

A roadside bomb killed 3 U.S. soldiers Wednesday morning
by ASSOCIATED PRESS

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - A Platteville native has been identified as one of three U.S. soldiers killed Wednesday morning by a roadside bomb that struck a military convoy in Iraq.

An Internet media site reported that Army Maj. Christopher Splinter, 43, a graduate of Platteville High School, was one of the victims of the bombing which occurred near Samarra, a town north of Baghdad.

Some Platteville residents learned of Splinter's death when it was announced during a Christmas Eve mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

A man answering the telephone at the home of Splinter's father, Virgil, said the family would have no comment. Military sources did not return phone messages left Thursday by the Telegraph Herald.

All three of the soldiers who were killed were said to be members of the Headquarters Company of the 5th Engineering Battalion, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Splinter was identified as an operations officer in charge of planning who had been deployed to Iraq in April of this year.

Splinter's death on Christmas Eve came as American forces were on alert to expect an increase in violence during the holidays. U.S. troops have been engaged in stepped-up raids on homes in areas described as strongholds of resistance against the U.S. occupation.

The area north of Baghdad where Splinter was killed has often been the site of attacks by insurgents.

The last soldier with close tri-state ties to have lost his life in Iraq was Army Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch, 21, of Dubuque, who died July 31 in Baghdad, when the armored personnel carrier he was riding in was hit by an explosive round.

Telegraph Herald -Dec 27, 2003

   
Teacher recalls fallen soldier

Platteville native was one of three killed Wednesday
by CRAIG REBER

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - Maj. Christopher Splinter, a Platteville native who died in Iraq, was fondly remembered Friday by a former teacher.

Splinter, 43, a member of Headquarters Company of the Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.-based 5th Engineer Battalion, was one of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded at 9 a.m. Wednesday north of Baghdad. The three were traveling in a three-vehicle convoy near Samarra.

Splinter graduated from Platteville High School in 1979. Bob Trickel, who taught high school English, had not seen Splinter since the early 1980s.

"He was a very positive young man," Trickel said. "He had a smile on his face most of the time. He was pleasant to be around. He was a good citizen and a good student as well."

Trickel learned of his former student's death in a Friday newspaper report.

"I could see his face in my mind," Trickel said.

Splinter's wife is the former Penny Barton, also of Platteville. Penny is a 1980 Platteville High School graduate. They were married in 1985 in Platteville and have two children, a boy, 13, and a girl, 10. The couple recently built a home in Waynesville, Mo. Splinter had served in the military for 14 years.

Family members declined to comment publicly, but expressed shock and sorrow at his death. They said he loved his family.

The battalion, attached to the 4th Infantry Division, razed obstacles and helped the division advance during hostilities by laying roads and bridges. Since then, the battalion has been helping rebuild Iraq.

The fatalities were the first for the battalion, which moved into Iraq from Kuwait in the second week of April. But some of the unit's soldiers have been wounded in attacks on convoys.

Splinter was the battalion's S-3 - its operations officer, in charge of plans. He is the ninth soldier from Wisconsin killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Splinter was interviewed in an Army News Service report dated Sept. 5. At the time, the 5th Engineer Battalion was forming a company of the Iraq Civilian Defense Corps. Splinter was involved in the effort.

A memorial service at Fort Leonard Wood is planned for the three soldiers.

The corps was to assume the responsibility for security around sensitive areas outside Taji Air Base.

Telegraph Herald - Jan 3, 2004

   
Platteville mourns 1 of nation's 'great warriors'

Friend says Splinter's actions saved lives
by CRAIG REBER

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - Platteville buried one of its sons Friday, and mourned with one of its daughters.

More than 550 people attended the funeral of Christopher Splinter at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Platteville. A 1979 Platteville High School graduate and a major with the U.S. Army, Splinter, 43, was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb on Christmas Eve.

The Rev. Charles Schluter, who led the Mass, called Splinter a wonderful man, and a loving husband and father.

"He stood for generosity and kindness, and stood to protect the things he cherished most," Schluter said.

Lt. Col. Bryan Watson, a friend who served with Splinter, said Splinter loved his God and his family.

"He put them first always, and that allowed him to satisfy his zeal for leading soldiers," Watson said.

In Iraq, Splinter led combat patrols and weapons searches.

"His actions saved lives," Watson said.

There was another side to Splinter, a man who planned and supervised construction projects that benefited both soldiers and Iraqi citizens.

"He truly believed in his role of helping the Iraqi people," Watson said.

He called Splinter one of America's "great warriors" who was born to be a professional soldier and "cut from the finest fabric of our nation."

Watson praised Splinter's family.

"He was nurtured to be a leader from the very outset," Watson said.

Watson added, Splinter learned hard work, integrity and discipline from his father, Virgil, from his mother, Barbara, compassion and kindness to others and from his four brothers and 7 sisters, "the importance of family."

That family included his wife Penny. Watson said Splinter understood Penny was a "gift given by God," a "strong and steadfast mate..."

Splinter, who was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, was buried with full military honors at Calvary Cemetery.