Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake

Chris Hake was known for a laugh which stuck with people. Faith acted as a constant in his life, especially when things got difficult. The soldiers who served with him also knew that when something needed handling, Chris would be there.

Chris enlisted at 17 after graduating from Oklahoma Bible Academy. Early in his Army career, he was selected from basic training to serve with the Old Guard in Arlington, Virginia. During his time there, he participated in President George W. Bush’s inaugural parade, Twilight Tattoo performances, and military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery.

After the September 11 attacks, Chris joined recovery efforts at the Pentagon. The experience stayed with him and influenced his decision to volunteer for combat duty. He later joined the 3rd Infantry Division and spent the next several years serving in the Army. During two deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Chris earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Just two weeks before his first deployment, Chris married the woman he loved. Later, while stateside, he spent a year with their newborn son, Gage. By the time Chris left for his second deployment, Gage was just over a year old.

On March 24, 2008, Chris was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq, alongside four fellow soldiers. He was 26 years old.

Those who knew Chris remembered his laugh and how he could lighten the mood around him. His faith was also a steady part of his life. One saying he often returned to was, “God will not put more on you than you can handle.” For the soldiers who served under him, Chris was more than a Sergeant. He was someone they trusted and someone they could turn to.

Away from the Army, Chris enjoyed hunting, skating, and simply driving around. What mattered most to him, though, was his family. His years as a husband and father were far too short, but they were filled with the people he loved most.

Chris’s laugh was one of the first things people remembered about him. He possessed a talent for easing the mood without making light of what others were going through. His faith stayed with him through difficult times, and the soldiers under his command knew they could turn to him for steady leadership.