Christopher J Lapka
Christopher was the oldest of two children born to Tina and Ken Lapka. He was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix i the summer of 1982. Having outgrown their Phoenix home the growing family moved to Peoria in 1990. C.J., as he was called, attended Peoria Sunrise Mountain H.S. where he excelled in academics and wrestling. At one time he was ranked number one in the st
ate in his weight class for division 4A wrestling. It was during his junior year that C.J. became acquainted with the American Legion when he was nominated to attend AZ Boys' State. He was so impressed with the program that he returned every year, except the year he was away at USMC basic training, to serve as a counselor. Christopher attended Arizona State University on a tuition waver (academic scholarship), majoring in engineering. He was an honor student making the Dean's List all 5 semesters he attended there. The fall semester had just begun in 2001 when the September 11th terror attacks upon our country occurred. He obsessed over them, watching news coverage non stop. He enlisted in the Marine Corps within days under the delayed entry program so that he could complete the fall semester. attended basic training in the spring of 2002 at MCRD San Diego. Against the recommendations of several of his superiors he insisted upon 0311, infantry, as his MOS. Corporal Christopher Lapka deployed to Iraq in mid October, 2004, his second deployment to the middle east. was KIA a short time later on October 30th. He was the A driver on a troop transport truck when insurgents attacked his convoy near Fallujah. A su***de truck bomber crashed into his truck initiating the attack, killing Christopher and 7 fellow Marines instantly. His fallen brothers are: Sgt. Kelly Courtney, Lance Corporals Jeremy Bow, John Byrd, Travis Fox and Michael Scarborough, and Pfcs. John Lukac and Andrew Riedel. Christopher was laid to rest in November 2004 at Arizona National Cemetery in lieu of Arlington National Cemetery so that he would be close to home.
