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F’burg High School to honor fallen soldier
Published October 21, 2009
National Guard Staff Sgt. Christopher Staats, who was killed in Afghanistan this past week, will be honored Friday night on his former field of battle — the Battlin’ Billie Stadium in Fredericksburg.
Staats, who graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1996, served as a defensive safety on his varsity football team.
Ironically, it was during a football game this past Friday night that one of his former mentors, FHS teacher Mike Myers, learned of Staats’ death.
“A coach told me on the sidelines,” he said.
Myers, who once served as Staats’ baseball coach, described his former player as a very good multi-sport athlete.
“He was very dedicated, very aggressive and a hard worker,” Myers said. “He played through the pain.”
Although Staats wasn’t a huge person, “he played like somebody who was a lot bigger,” Myers said. “He was one of the toughest people I had been around, the way he would hit people ...”
But his reputation for toughness on the field was countered by his charisma in the classroom.
Art teacher Rick Carroll showcases one of Staats’ original artworks — a portrait drawing — during Open House each year.
“The shading he put into it. He did an excellent job on that,” Carroll said. “Ironically, I had that out a few weeks ago at Open House. It really hits home.”
Carroll also described Staats as a great student, who was very fun, personable and helpful.
“He was a really great kid. I looked forward to the classes he was in. He was one of several students who made class fun,” the teacher said.
Both Myers and Carroll commented on Staats’ military service.
“It didn’t surprise me he was in that role. That was the kind of person he was,” Myers said. “He was the kind of guy who would be the first one in and the last one out. He’d be there taking care of everyone else. He was a leader.”
Carroll agreed, saying “He felt an obligation to serve his country, and be brought honor to his country, his community and his family,” he said.
Senior naval science instructor Gene Garrett, who is organizing Friday night’s tribute, said he did not know Staats, but he’s grateful to him for his service.
“He joined the National Guard right out of high school, graduated from Texas A&M and served his country and us in Kosovo and Afghanistan. He was in Afghanistan helping farmers learn an agribusiness that serves their nation instead of poppy production.
“I think the real bottom line is he is an American hero who died serving his country and thus we are honored to honor him,” Garrett said.
Staats, 32, died Oct. 16 from injuries he received when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Fellow Guardsman Spc. Anthony G. Green, 28, of Matthews, N.C., also was killed in the blast.
Both men were assigned to the 143rd Infantry Detachment at Camp Mabry. They deployed to Afghanistan a year ago and were scheduled to return home within about a month, according to the Department of Defense. Staats and Green were the 11th and 12th Guardsmen from the Lone Star State to die in Iraq and Afghanistan since
Sept. 11, 2001.
Honoring Staats
A tribute to National Guard Staff Sgt. Christopher Staats, who was killed in Afghanistan on Oct. 16, will take place prior to the Fredericksburg football game Friday night at the Battlin’ Billie Stadium. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m.
A Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadet will read Staats’ biography and make a few comments about the soldier.
The band will play the National Anthem and the NJROTC unit will raise the flag to half-mast and leave it there throughout the game.
Staats, 32, graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1996.
He is survived by his wife, Monteigne; father, Bobby Staats; mother, Lorna Eckhardt; and numerous family members and friends.
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