SFC Christopher A. Celiz
12 July 2018, Afghanistan
Rangers
A native of Summerville, South Carolina, Sergeant First Class Christopher A. Celiz was killed by enemy small arms fire on 12 July 2018 in Paktiya Province, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
Celiz enlisted in the Army in September 2007 as a Combat Engineer. After completing One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 7th Calvary Regiment, at Fort Hood, Texas, and deployed to Iraq. He was then reassigned to the 92nd Engineer Battalion and deployed to Afghanistan. Upon completion of the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program in 2013, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. He deployed to Afghanistan five more times with the 75th Ranger Regiment.
SFC Celiz was serving as a Mortar Platoon Sergeant in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at the time of his death.