Army Sgt. FC Gregory Rogers
June 3, 2024
Army Specialist Marko Samson
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iraqnam.blogspot.com
Just about the only word that Christopher N. Rutherford’s friends can’t use to describe him is shy. “He was given the nickname ”Wild Thing” once in high school,” said Eric Reed. “We had this motivational speaker and we were in an assembly and he got up and sang ”Wild Thing” in front of the whole school. He brought the house down.” Rutherford, 25, of Newport, Ohio, was killed by a roadside bomb July 2 near Balad. He was a 2003 graduate of Marietta College and was assigned to Fort Knox. He was on his second tour. Rutherford’s always-sunny attitude even extended to his tours in Iraq, said Reed. “You would think going to war he would show some fear or negativity,” he said. “But he was unbelievable. It was just another experience for him.” Prior to entering the military, Rutherford worked as a sports reporter at The Marietta Times. In the spring of 2004, he chronicled Monroe Central’s state title victory in softball and won an Associated Press award for best sports story. He is survived by his parents, Gary and Penny and brother Brandon. “Chris had more zest for life than anyone I’ve ever been around,” Reed said.
