Army Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Robinson

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Robinson, 36, Brandon, Miss.

Ssgt Robinson was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, Mississippi Army National Guard, Jackson, Miss.; killed March 25 when his Humvee came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations in Sangain District, Afghanistan.

Metro soldier killed in battle in Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Robinson of Brandon died during second deployment to the country

By Kelli Esters
kesters@clarionledger.com

A Mississippi National Guardsman from Brandon died in Afghanistan early Saturday, military officials said Sunday.

Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Robinson, 36, died in a firefight near the Sangain District in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Lt. Col. Tim Powell said in a release.

Robinson was assigned to the Headquarters Detachment, Second Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group in Jackson, Powell said.

"The death of Christopher Robinson is a great loss for the citizens of Mississippi," Gov. Haley Barbour said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."

Robinson was on his second deployment to Afghanistan, where he trained Afghan special forces, said Maj. Gen. Harold A. Cross, the adjutant general of Mississippi. He was one of about 190 soldiers deployed in 2003. He came back in 2004, and then volunteered for redeployment for the September 2005 mission, Cross said.

Robinson was killed by small-arms fire during combat patrol early Saturday, Cross said.

"Anytime something like this happens, we are reminded what a high price we pay for freedom," Cross said on Sunday.

Robinson was married with two small children, Cross said.

"He died in the springtime of his life," Cross said. He added Robinson "would have liked to live a normal life," watching his children grow, but became a hero defending freedom.

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Robinson was killed in action on 03/25/06.