Our Hero

Some will like this story, and some will not but it is a grieving father’s story of his beloved son. I’m not a writer so it may seem like the ramblings of an old man at times.

Chris was raised in New Mexico. He was born in Silver City in 1983. Chris was only a few months old when we moved to Albuquerque. After a while, we moved to Los Alamos, where he grew up.

Chris loved growing up in this small community, nestled in the mountains. He didn’t like school very much, but he was smart. He once wrote a paper about a make-believe invention; picture frames that automatically changed. Who knew these would actually be invented several years later.

Chris had a great sense of humor and was always making us laugh. He once dressed in drag for Halloween or there was a time when changing the oil on his car, he drove off the end of the car ramps. He always seemed to be planning some funny prank or joke.

He had a passion for sports. He tried every sport, football, hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball. He eventually settled on playing soccer and basketball exclusively. We enjoyed watching him play and were very proud of his sportsmanship toward others.

Chris had two sisters that he loved very much. Dannielle, four years younger, got the brunt of his practical jokes and teasing. His little sister, Calyssa, nineteen years younger, wouldn’t get to know him until after he got out of the military. He was so happy to have two sisters to be a big brother too and of course to tease and play jokes on.

In high school, Chris lost interest in sports, school, and pretty much everything. He became very rebellious. We didn’t think he was going to finish high school, but he pulled it together and graduated in 2001. He then moved back to Albuquerque to attend community college. He worked hard and did pretty good for a couple of semesters. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. He decided a change was needed and enlisted in the Army in 2002.

We were all so proud of him at his boot camp graduation. He looked so handsome and mature in his dress uniform. We were so happy when he got his first deployment to South Korea because the invasion of Iraq was just spinning up. It was short lived; he was redeployed to Iraq shortly after the invasion.

He seemed fine the first few months in Iraq. When he could call, he wanted us to mail him candy and soccer balls to give to the kids. Over the next several months, his demeanor changed. He was given leave after six months.  It was great to see him, but he seemed different…distant. He had a hard time sleeping while on leave, especially if there was a thunderstorm. He would dive for cover because he thought it was incoming mortars. Also, I learned not to let him drive. He would go down the middle of the road and didn’t stop which is how they drove in Iraq; a moving vehicle was less of a target.

After serving a year in Iraq, Chris was redeployed to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. He was suffering physically from his back, shoulder and knees and mentally from PTSD. He was being treated for his ailments and on medical restriction from his daily duties for about nine months. He was in line to get on a bus to go back to Iraq when his doctor pulled him out of line and he was medically discharged.

Chris settled in Colorado Springs after his discharge. He got married to Maureen (Mo), who had a daughter, Chloe. Yeah, I know insta-fam and Chris was a stepdad. Things were great for several years; they bought a house and did a lot of remodeling. Chris had a job at a metal shop and was learning to weld. They would go rafting and on motorcycle rides. He loved Mo and Chloe and the life they were building together. But he swore he would never have kids.  He said he was sterile; not sure where he got that idea from. Jokes on him, you’ll see later in this story.

Chris eventually had surgery on his back and continued to struggle with PTSD. Over time his demons returned, and he went back to his old habits, which ultimately ended his marriage. Chris then moved to Albuquerque and lived with us while attending the University of New Mexico.

He tried but struggled to focus on class and eventually dropped out. He didn’t want to find a job, even though he said he was trying. We tried to get him to coach Calyssa’s soccer team, but he wasn’t interested.

During this time, Chris developed a habit of collecting rocks that he thought were interesting. Wherever he went, he would accumulate piles of rocks. It dawned on me recently, he enjoyed rock collecting with his Grandma Walkup, guess that’s why he liked collecting rocks.

It was hard to get him to connect with the concept of a normal life and he didn’t want to get help from other people. His nightmares were bad, and we eventually had to set him up in his own apartment. He destroyed that apartment and another before landing in a veteran’s integration housing facility. He couldn’t follow their rules and was asked to leave. He lived on the streets of Albuquerque for a couple of weeks.

His mom lived in Tucson at the time and was in Albuquerque to visit him and Danni. After a bit of discussion, he decided to move to Tucson with his mom. He did well for a while in Tucson but eventually he ended up living on the streets.

I’m going to use a corny analogy to close out because that’s what grieving dads get to do. When a soccer player scores three goals in a game, we refer to it as a hat trick. Chris passed away with yet another hat trick statistic; homeless, addicted, disabled veteran. But he passed on his hat trick legacy as a caring, loving, hero, to his son, Dean, born December 2024.

Chris don’t worry about your precious and adorable legacy, we’ve got him. Rest in peace Our Hero. We love you and will miss you.


Christopher Huff, a cherished son, devoted brother, and proud Army infantry veteran, passed away on Friday, May 9th, in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 41.
Chris served his country with honor and courage, including during his time in Iraq, where his dedication and bravery left a lasting impression on all who served alongside him.
He is survived by his infant son, mother Lisa Leake, father Ben Huff (Dot Huff); his sisters Dannielle Clark and Calyssa Huff; his brother-in-law Everest Koetter; his beloved niece Riley Clark and nephew Nicholas Clark.
Chris was a one-of-a-kind soul—fiercely loving, deeply thoughtful, and effortlessly funny. His unique spirit, acts of quiet kindness, and vibrant sense of humor touched everyone who knew him.
Private services will be held by the family, and military honors will be rendered in recognition of his service.


Grandma Walkup at high school graduation 

My brother. 

We met in South Korea. We served a year together in the same platoon on that peninsula until we deployed together to Ramadi, Iraq. 

There, we’ve endured unspeakable hell and many painful losses of our service brothers. After surviving the sandbox, I thought we were invincible – only to come home and lose more brothers far too early over the years. 

I served out my Active duty with you on Ft Cason before we would part ways for the remainder of our time together; apart but forever connected through the bonds of military service and war. 

When we met, you had an infectious laughter and the most easygoing personality. I watched how our tour slowly eroded your innocence as you succumbed to the death-grips of self-medication. 

Over the years in the beginning, I would receive sporadic phonecalls in the early mid morning hours. Your lucidity was minimal and conversations were chaotic, but our voices were like a distant bro-hug ensuring we still had each others 6. 

Years later, the sporadic calls paced out until they stopped altogether. Your mom became my source of status update on your well-being. 

You were lost. I prayed daily for you as I do for all my brothers while feeling helpless that distance prevented true intervention. 

Life got away from us. You just became a new dad. Distractions, obligations, & responsibilities alike, created more distance and disconnect. We always fear this would or could happen but feel we always have more time. 

Once again, we are met with the harsh reality that time is never guaranteed and the “what if’s” encircle our brains with what we could or should have done differently that you’d still be here. 

You will always have a special place in my heart, my brother. Few could understand the bond we share that will extend far beyond this world. You are now reunited with our service brothers as well as each of your own loved ones lost; a guardian angel for those of us here on Earth for as long as we are alotted. 

Your struggles are over and I know you are finally at peace. May God be with you, your mom & your family as well as with your brothers who will no doubt feel this so deeply for all time. Rest in peace, Chris. I love you. Save a seat for us! –Kooch

Santa Fe National Cemetery

That will always be a good story. One to pass down for sure.

Chris’ laugh was infectious. If he was laughing, you would be laughing just hearing him. He had an amazing sense of humor and was always making us laugh. 

One of the funniest things he did when he was on leave visiting us in Albuquerque is still a punchline we use. 

He  wanted to visit high school friends in Los Alamos.  Chris played competitive soccer so we were always making the drive from Los Alamos to Albuquerque. We didn’t think twice about it when he left Albuquerque. A couple hours later Chris called very confused. He said “I just passed a sign that said welcome to Texas”. He forgot to transition from an east bound interstate to the north bound interstate and ended up driving to Texas. 

We have laughed about this for years and never let him forget how easy it is to get lost in your home state. 

CHRISTOPHER NEAL HUFF

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