Christopher D. Horton, U.S. Army

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Photo from Facebook: In Memory of Specialist Christopher Horton

Hometown: Collinsville, OK
Branch: U.S. Army 
Unit: 1st Battalion, 279 Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard
Military Honors: Bronze Star, Purple Heart 
Date of Sacrifice: September 9, 2011 - KIA in Paktia, Afghanistan
Age: 26
Conflict: War in Afghanistan, 2001-2021 

Christopher Horton was an expert marksman who won numerous awards for his sharpshooting. Apart from his military career, Horton was also a professional sponsored shooter through the United States Shooting Academy in Owasso, Oklahoma.

Fully aware that, as an Army sniper, he would be a prized target for the enemy, Spc. Horton was passionate about lending his rare skills for the cause of freedom—despite the high danger of the assignment.

“Christopher put his career on hold as a professional sponsored shooter, business owner, and political consultant—to serve his country,” said his wife, Jane Horton. “Christopher loved his country more than anything, and truly believed in the values that America was founded on. He didn’t want to do anything else until he served his country. He felt an honor and duty to protect us on the home front and join the ranks of the many American patriots that fight for our freedom.”

In 2008, Spc. Horton graduated from the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri, then enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in Tulsa. During his time with the Guard, he became an infantryman, was SWAT-certified, sniper-qualified, and graduated at the top of his class.

Even outside of his Army responsibilities, Horton was passionate about serving his community and nation. He volunteered as a police officer and was also active as a political consultant to local, state, and national campaigns. “He was offered jobs by many government agencies,” according to Jane Horton, “and told them they could call him back when he was home from Afghanistan.”

Spc. Christopher Horton died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire on September 9, 2011, in Paktia Province, Afghanistan. He and his wife Jane were expecting their first child when Christopher’s life was cut short in service of his country.

Christopher is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. in Section 60, Site 9728.