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Spc. "DOC" Christopher Melvin Wainright
Christopher came into this world on the 4th of July 1982 at 4:16am. A whooping 8lbs. 11oz. He stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks due to complications with his birth. He was named Melvin Henry Gilbert Jr. He was 1st born son.
His father Timothy Julian Wainright raised Christopher from the age of 2. Tim adopted Christopher when he was 11. He chose to keep his bio dad's name as his middle name, Christopher to be after his mother Christina and Wainright to be after his father Tim.
Christopher loved life and had many friends over his lifetime. Christopher had ADHD and had to learn to work around his disability. He took 4 full years of Air Force JROTC at Temecula Valley High School. He graduated and immediately joined the Air Force.
After getting out of the Air Force, he modeled, installed flooring and many other miscellaneous jobs. Christopher was very handy with a high aptitude for mechanics. However, that was not his passion.
He went to Mt San Jacinto and received his Certification as an EMT. He then married Tallia (Such) Wainright 8-30-2006.
He joined the US Army as a medic, and his brother joined the Marines as a Machinegunner (they had a way with eachother).
Christopher and Tallia then had a beautiful son and named him Christopher Julian (named after himself and his father) 4-2-07.
Serving in the Army as Combat Medic, he was highly respected by his brothers in arms and his superiors. Christopher loved it when they called him DOC. Christopher saved many of lives in Iraq.
His goal was to become a Physician's Assistant, and was excited to start the schooling that would lead him to his goals on March 1, 2009, he never made it to that day.
Christopher was home only 19 days from 15 months in Iraq when he died from an accidental gunshot wound.
He was a loving father, husband, brother and the best son. His life was a short 26 years, but he impacted many in his short life.
He is missed and loved dearly.
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Freedom Kid honored by 3rd ACR
Because he was born on July 4, fellow Grim Troop medics called him “The Freedom Kid.”
Wainright, 26, of Temecula, Calif., was pronounced dead Jan. 23 after being transported from his residence in Copperas Cove to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center after suffering a gunshot wound.
Wainright entered the military August 2006 as a healthcare specialist and had been assigned to the 2-3 ACR since July 2007.
During the Soldier’s tribute, Spc. Daniel Curran, a fellow medic who served with Wainright during their last deployment, said their friendship would make the Fourth of July an even more special holiday.
“He was the kind of man you never forget….He was larger than life and over the top,” Curran said before a standing-room only crowd inside the chapel.
“But most of all,” he added, “we were dads. We always compared notes on our kids’ activities.”
Curran said he probably had seen pictures of a race car bed Wainright had given to his son, Chris, “at least 100 times.”
During the squadron commander’s tribute, Lt. Col. Paul Calvert, 2nd Squadron commander, 3rd ACR, said, “It has been my honor and privilege to serve at this side the last 20 months. He was smart, confident and proficient in his skills as a combat medic. Christopher routinely demonstrated tremendous compassion for the people in his charge and superb potential for continued service to our great nation.”
Calvert said Wainright’s confidence, “…coupled with his big smile and positive attitude was what I like most about him. He simply made everyone feel better because he was around.”
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Despite the tragedy of Wainright’s loss, Calvert remembered his as a combat medic “who cared deeply for those he served with and as a man of excellence, who positively impacted every person he was with.”
Capt. Gregory McLean, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company troop commander, 2-3 ACR, said Wainright was a man “Deeply in love with his wife, Tallia. And he treasured every moment of being a father to his son, Chris. He cherished the upbringing his parents provided.”
McLean said Wainright’s unbridled enthusiasm and smile “made everyone around him feel more sure of their abilities.”
Wainright was at his best under pressure, McLean said, citing the young medic’s composure while helping treat about 100 Iraqis who had been wounded in a suicide vest attack in a shopping area.
“Wainright took all his training and knowledge and saved lives,” McLean said.
Even then his sense of humor did not fail him.
“I was barking out some orders when Wainright interrupted and said, “Sir, they don’t speak English.’”
Wainright was born July 4, 1982, in Long Beach, CA He attended high school in Temecula, Calif.
After serving briefly with the Air Force, Wainright entered the Army as a healthcare specialist. He had been assigned to the 2-3 ACR since July 2007.
He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2007 to January 2009 and served as a line medic for Grim Troop and Lion Battery as well as an attached civil affairs team.
His awards and decorations include the
Army Commendation Medal,
Army Achievement Medal,
Good Conduct Medal,
National Defense Service Medal,
Iraq Campaign Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
and the
Army Service Ribbon.
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