Name: Christopher "Chris" James BABIN
Birth:September 9, 1977 in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA
Death: 6 JAN 2005 in Iraq; age 27
Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA
Courier
January 13. 2005 12:00AM
Staff Sgt. Christopher "Chris" James Babin, 27, a native and resident of Houma, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005.
Visitation was at Chauvin Funeral Home and from 8:30 a.m. to funeral time Saturday at First United Pentecostal Church. Religious service was at the church.
He is survived by his wife, Lydia Manzanares Babin of Houma; his parents, Richard James Babin and Charlotte Ann Robichaux Babin of Houma; one son, Mikhail Christopher Babin of Houma; two stepsons, Dillon Dedan Bertiner Pommells and Dishon Daylan Pommells of Belize; one stepdaughter, Dascha Delys Pommells of Belize; one sister, Alice Kay Babin of Houma; and numerous aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Wilbert J. Babin and Audette Justine Babin; his maternal grandparents, Sydney Robichaux and Beatrice Robichaux; and one uncle, Fredrick Babin, U.S. Navy veteran.
He was in the Louisiana National Guard and was a member of First United Pentecostal Church.
Awarded for service to his country Chris was posthumously granted the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Chauvin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
HOUMA -- A band of soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard's Houma-based Charlie Co. gathered Friday night to honor seven of their own killed exactly a year ago in Iraq.
They were called together by Platoon Sgt. Howard Turner III, now a homicide detective in New Orleans, who said many had not dealt with the grief and pain of the deaths caused when a bomb exploded under a Bradley fighting vehicle.
"When that happened, we had 24 hours off, then we had to drive on with the mission," Turner said. "This is our time to grieve."
Losing their lives in the explosion were Staff Sgt. Christopher Babin, 27, of Houma; Sgt. Bradley Bergeron, 25, of Chauvin; Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Comeaux, 34, of Raceland; Sgt. Armand "Luke" Frickey, 21, of Houma; Sgt. Huey Fassbender III of LaPlace; Sgt. Warren Murphy of Marerro and Kenneth Vonronn, a guardsman from New York.
Also known as the Black Sheep, Charlie Co. was responsible for some of the most-dangerous work in Iraq -- like patrolling the airport road, where many have been killed in explosions like the one that claimed their fellow guardsmen.
Guardsman James Scaruffi of New Orleans was close friends with Comeaux. Riding in the vehicle behind the Bradley, Scaruffi saw the yellow light from the blast. At first he thought the tank had disappeared before realizing it was upturned and burning in a canal.
Scaruffi said that after his shift, "I probably smoked a pack of cigarettes in one hour. And then I cried. And I cried for a week."
Jeremy Carroll, brother to Guardsman Casey Carroll, said he was vacationing in New York when a family member called to say there had been an accident in Casey's unit in Iraq. But they didn't say that Casey was all right.
Jeremy Carroll, co-owner of the Y-Bar in downtown Houma where the reunion was staged Friday night, said he was on his knees on the streets of New York when Casey called a few minutes later.
Some of the men fortunate enough to return home try to support the families of their fallen brothers. Turner was present for the recent birth of Babin's son.
Most said that being with families, especially with children, helped them bridge the chasm between combat and civilian life. Some said they think about the men who died every day. Others said they tried not to think about it.
Every soldier spoke about the courage of his fellow guardsmen. Some recalled the two young Iraqi boys the troop "adopted" by making sure they had food, water and a safe place for their sheep to graze.
"Sometimes I welcome my dreams, because I see people I'll never see again," Scaruffi said. He still keeps the deceased men's phone numbers in his cell phone, and says he'll always do so.
Jake Westmoreland, a Bradley gunner and company commander, flew in from Denver to be with his fellow soldiers.
"We were a big gang before Iraq made our bond stronger," he said. "We built a brotherhood here, and I'm not going to let it go."
Scaruffi's eyes seemed to wander across some distant landscape as he said, "That's why soldiers serve."
Birth:September 9, 1977 in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA
Death: 6 JAN 2005 in Iraq; age 27
Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA
Courier
January 13. 2005 12:00AM
Staff Sgt. Christopher "Chris" James Babin, 27, a native and resident of Houma, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005.
Visitation was at Chauvin Funeral Home and from 8:30 a.m. to funeral time Saturday at First United Pentecostal Church. Religious service was at the church.
He is survived by his wife, Lydia Manzanares Babin of Houma; his parents, Richard James Babin and Charlotte Ann Robichaux Babin of Houma; one son, Mikhail Christopher Babin of Houma; two stepsons, Dillon Dedan Bertiner Pommells and Dishon Daylan Pommells of Belize; one stepdaughter, Dascha Delys Pommells of Belize; one sister, Alice Kay Babin of Houma; and numerous aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Wilbert J. Babin and Audette Justine Babin; his maternal grandparents, Sydney Robichaux and Beatrice Robichaux; and one uncle, Fredrick Babin, U.S. Navy veteran.
He was in the Louisiana National Guard and was a member of First United Pentecostal Church.
Awarded for service to his country Chris was posthumously granted the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Chauvin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
HOUMA -- A band of soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard's Houma-based Charlie Co. gathered Friday night to honor seven of their own killed exactly a year ago in Iraq.
They were called together by Platoon Sgt. Howard Turner III, now a homicide detective in New Orleans, who said many had not dealt with the grief and pain of the deaths caused when a bomb exploded under a Bradley fighting vehicle.
"When that happened, we had 24 hours off, then we had to drive on with the mission," Turner said. "This is our time to grieve."
Losing their lives in the explosion were Staff Sgt. Christopher Babin, 27, of Houma; Sgt. Bradley Bergeron, 25, of Chauvin; Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Comeaux, 34, of Raceland; Sgt. Armand "Luke" Frickey, 21, of Houma; Sgt. Huey Fassbender III of LaPlace; Sgt. Warren Murphy of Marerro and Kenneth Vonronn, a guardsman from New York.
Also known as the Black Sheep, Charlie Co. was responsible for some of the most-dangerous work in Iraq -- like patrolling the airport road, where many have been killed in explosions like the one that claimed their fellow guardsmen.
Guardsman James Scaruffi of New Orleans was close friends with Comeaux. Riding in the vehicle behind the Bradley, Scaruffi saw the yellow light from the blast. At first he thought the tank had disappeared before realizing it was upturned and burning in a canal.
Scaruffi said that after his shift, "I probably smoked a pack of cigarettes in one hour. And then I cried. And I cried for a week."
Jeremy Carroll, brother to Guardsman Casey Carroll, said he was vacationing in New York when a family member called to say there had been an accident in Casey's unit in Iraq. But they didn't say that Casey was all right.
Jeremy Carroll, co-owner of the Y-Bar in downtown Houma where the reunion was staged Friday night, said he was on his knees on the streets of New York when Casey called a few minutes later.
Some of the men fortunate enough to return home try to support the families of their fallen brothers. Turner was present for the recent birth of Babin's son.
Most said that being with families, especially with children, helped them bridge the chasm between combat and civilian life. Some said they think about the men who died every day. Others said they tried not to think about it.
Every soldier spoke about the courage of his fellow guardsmen. Some recalled the two young Iraqi boys the troop "adopted" by making sure they had food, water and a safe place for their sheep to graze.
"Sometimes I welcome my dreams, because I see people I'll never see again," Scaruffi said. He still keeps the deceased men's phone numbers in his cell phone, and says he'll always do so.
Jake Westmoreland, a Bradley gunner and company commander, flew in from Denver to be with his fellow soldiers.
"We were a big gang before Iraq made our bond stronger," he said. "We built a brotherhood here, and I'm not going to let it go."
Scaruffi's eyes seemed to wander across some distant landscape as he said, "That's why soldiers serve."
Name: Christopher "Chris" James BABIN
Birth:September 9, 1977 in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA
Death: 6 JAN 2005 in Iraq; age 27
Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA
Courier
January 13. 2005 12:00AM
Staff Sgt. Christopher "Chris" James Babin, 27, a native and resident of Houma, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005.
Visitation was at Chauvin Funeral Home and from 8:30 a.m. to funeral time Saturday at First United Pentecostal Church. Religious service was at the church.
He is survived by his wife, Lydia Manzanares Babin of Houma; his parents, Richard James Babin and Charlotte Ann Robichaux Babin of Houma; one son, Mikhail Christopher Babin of Houma; two stepsons, Dillon Dedan Bertiner Pommells and Dishon Daylan Pommells of Belize; one stepdaughter, Dascha Delys Pommells of Belize; one sister, Alice Kay Babin of Houma; and numerous aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Wilbert J. Babin and Audette Justine Babin; his maternal grandparents, Sydney Robichaux and Beatrice Robichaux; and one uncle, Fredrick Babin, U.S. Navy veteran.
He was in the Louisiana National Guard and was a member of First United Pentecostal Church.
Awarded for service to his country Chris was posthumously granted the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Chauvin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
HOUMA -- A band of soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard's Houma-based Charlie Co. gathered Friday night to honor seven of their own killed exactly a year ago in Iraq.
They were called together by Platoon Sgt. Howard Turner III, now a homicide detective in New Orleans, who said many had not dealt with the grief and pain of the deaths caused when a bomb exploded under a Bradley fighting vehicle.
"When that happened, we had 24 hours off, then we had to drive on with the mission," Turner said. "This is our time to grieve."
Losing their lives in the explosion were Staff Sgt. Christopher Babin, 27, of Houma; Sgt. Bradley Bergeron, 25, of Chauvin; Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Comeaux, 34, of Raceland; Sgt. Armand "Luke" Frickey, 21, of Houma; Sgt. Huey Fassbender III of LaPlace; Sgt. Warren Murphy of Marerro and Kenneth Vonronn, a guardsman from New York.
Also known as the Black Sheep, Charlie Co. was responsible for some of the most-dangerous work in Iraq -- like patrolling the airport road, where many have been killed in explosions like the one that claimed their fellow guardsmen.
Guardsman James Scaruffi of New Orleans was close friends with Comeaux. Riding in the vehicle behind the Bradley, Scaruffi saw the yellow light from the blast. At first he thought the tank had disappeared before realizing it was upturned and burning in a canal.
Scaruffi said that after his shift, "I probably smoked a pack of cigarettes in one hour. And then I cried. And I cried for a week."
Jeremy Carroll, brother to Guardsman Casey Carroll, said he was vacationing in New York when a family member called to say there had been an accident in Casey's unit in Iraq. But they didn't say that Casey was all right.
Jeremy Carroll, co-owner of the Y-Bar in downtown Houma where the reunion was staged Friday night, said he was on his knees on the streets of New York when Casey called a few minutes later.
Some of the men fortunate enough to return home try to support the families of their fallen brothers. Turner was present for the recent birth of Babin's son.
Most said that being with families, especially with children, helped them bridge the chasm between combat and civilian life. Some said they think about the men who died every day. Others said they tried not to think about it.
Every soldier spoke about the courage of his fellow guardsmen. Some recalled the two young Iraqi boys the troop "adopted" by making sure they had food, water and a safe place for their sheep to graze.
"Sometimes I welcome my dreams, because I see people I'll never see again," Scaruffi said. He still keeps the deceased men's phone numbers in his cell phone, and says he'll always do so.
Jake Westmoreland, a Bradley gunner and company commander, flew in from Denver to be with his fellow soldiers.
"We were a big gang before Iraq made our bond stronger," he said. "We built a brotherhood here, and I'm not going to let it go."
Scaruffi's eyes seemed to wander across some distant landscape as he said, "That's why soldiers serve."
Birth:September 9, 1977 in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA
Death: 6 JAN 2005 in Iraq; age 27
Houma, Terrebonne Parish, LA
Courier
January 13. 2005 12:00AM
Staff Sgt. Christopher "Chris" James Babin, 27, a native and resident of Houma, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005.
Visitation was at Chauvin Funeral Home and from 8:30 a.m. to funeral time Saturday at First United Pentecostal Church. Religious service was at the church.
He is survived by his wife, Lydia Manzanares Babin of Houma; his parents, Richard James Babin and Charlotte Ann Robichaux Babin of Houma; one son, Mikhail Christopher Babin of Houma; two stepsons, Dillon Dedan Bertiner Pommells and Dishon Daylan Pommells of Belize; one stepdaughter, Dascha Delys Pommells of Belize; one sister, Alice Kay Babin of Houma; and numerous aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Wilbert J. Babin and Audette Justine Babin; his maternal grandparents, Sydney Robichaux and Beatrice Robichaux; and one uncle, Fredrick Babin, U.S. Navy veteran.
He was in the Louisiana National Guard and was a member of First United Pentecostal Church.
Awarded for service to his country Chris was posthumously granted the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Chauvin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
HOUMA -- A band of soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard's Houma-based Charlie Co. gathered Friday night to honor seven of their own killed exactly a year ago in Iraq.
They were called together by Platoon Sgt. Howard Turner III, now a homicide detective in New Orleans, who said many had not dealt with the grief and pain of the deaths caused when a bomb exploded under a Bradley fighting vehicle.
"When that happened, we had 24 hours off, then we had to drive on with the mission," Turner said. "This is our time to grieve."
Losing their lives in the explosion were Staff Sgt. Christopher Babin, 27, of Houma; Sgt. Bradley Bergeron, 25, of Chauvin; Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Comeaux, 34, of Raceland; Sgt. Armand "Luke" Frickey, 21, of Houma; Sgt. Huey Fassbender III of LaPlace; Sgt. Warren Murphy of Marerro and Kenneth Vonronn, a guardsman from New York.
Also known as the Black Sheep, Charlie Co. was responsible for some of the most-dangerous work in Iraq -- like patrolling the airport road, where many have been killed in explosions like the one that claimed their fellow guardsmen.
Guardsman James Scaruffi of New Orleans was close friends with Comeaux. Riding in the vehicle behind the Bradley, Scaruffi saw the yellow light from the blast. At first he thought the tank had disappeared before realizing it was upturned and burning in a canal.
Scaruffi said that after his shift, "I probably smoked a pack of cigarettes in one hour. And then I cried. And I cried for a week."
Jeremy Carroll, brother to Guardsman Casey Carroll, said he was vacationing in New York when a family member called to say there had been an accident in Casey's unit in Iraq. But they didn't say that Casey was all right.
Jeremy Carroll, co-owner of the Y-Bar in downtown Houma where the reunion was staged Friday night, said he was on his knees on the streets of New York when Casey called a few minutes later.
Some of the men fortunate enough to return home try to support the families of their fallen brothers. Turner was present for the recent birth of Babin's son.
Most said that being with families, especially with children, helped them bridge the chasm between combat and civilian life. Some said they think about the men who died every day. Others said they tried not to think about it.
Every soldier spoke about the courage of his fellow guardsmen. Some recalled the two young Iraqi boys the troop "adopted" by making sure they had food, water and a safe place for their sheep to graze.
"Sometimes I welcome my dreams, because I see people I'll never see again," Scaruffi said. He still keeps the deceased men's phone numbers in his cell phone, and says he'll always do so.
Jake Westmoreland, a Bradley gunner and company commander, flew in from Denver to be with his fellow soldiers.
"We were a big gang before Iraq made our bond stronger," he said. "We built a brotherhood here, and I'm not going to let it go."
Scaruffi's eyes seemed to wander across some distant landscape as he said, "That's why soldiers serve."
