Marine Pvt Gurtner was assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. Gurtner died after a weapon was accidentally fired into his chest, the Pentagon said. Christian loved bowling, the Atlanta Braves and Ohio State football. He loved to laugh and stir things up, too. He had this smile; and you knew when you saw that smile you were going to get into trouble. "He was proud and believed in what he was doing," his family said in a short statement. "He wanted the Iraqis to have the same privileges as we Americans." Staff Sgt. Eryck Little, who recruited Gurtner and is serving as a family spokesman, said Gurtner almost joined the Army but instead went for his first choice: to become a Marine infantryman. "He was a typical Marine," Little said. "He was young, motivated, hard-charging. He was the type of guy who stepped up to the plate to a challenge." Gurtner was single and had a 2-month-old daughter. He arrived in Kuwait in February.
Marine Pvt Gurtner was assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. Gurtner died after a weapon was accidentally fired into his chest, the Pentagon said. Christian loved bowling, the Atlanta Braves and Ohio State football. He loved to laugh and stir things up, too. He had this smile; and you knew when you saw that smile you were going to get into trouble. "He was proud and believed in what he was doing," his family said in a short statement. "He wanted the Iraqis to have the same privileges as we Americans." Staff Sgt. Eryck Little, who recruited Gurtner and is serving as a family spokesman, said Gurtner almost joined the Army but instead went for his first choice: to become a Marine infantryman. "He was a typical Marine," Little said. "He was young, motivated, hard-charging. He was the type of guy who stepped up to the plate to a challenge." Gurtner was single and had a 2-month-old daughter. He arrived in Kuwait in February.
Bio by: Brenda N
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