Chief Cryptologic Technician Christian M. Pike, 31, of Peoria, Ariz was assigned to a Naval Special Warfare Support Activity 1, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif. On March 10, 2013, his unit found themselves in a fierce battle with a large number of insurgents. Before making contact with the enemy, CTTC Pike had been able to provide advance warning of their approach. However, the group was badly outnumbered, and during the fighting Christian was seriously wounded. He was evacuated and airlifted to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where he died on March 13, 2013.

CTTC Pike graduated from Peoria High School in 2000 and enlisted in the Navy in 2001, joining the long line of family members who had served the nation. As a highly trained specialist, CTTC Pike’s job was to use a wide range of cryptologic skills to gain critical intelligence on real time enemy movements and actions.

At the memorial service, Diana Pike noted with great pride that her son had “led a life he chose. He was so happy…. He loved his job, he loved the Navy, and he loved his teammates.”

CTTC Pike is survived by his fiancé Morgan Lakner, his mother Diana, and younger sister Denise.