Christopher Speer
Encyclopedia
Sergeant First Class (SFC) Christopher James Speer (September 9, 1973 – August 6, 2002) was a combat medic with a Delta Force
team who was mortally wounded during a skirmish in Afghanistan
, on July 27, 2002. Speer, who was not wearing a helmet at the time because the mission called for indigenous clothing, suffered a head wound from a grenade and succumbed to his injuries approximately two weeks later.
Speer was awarded the Soldier's Medal for risking his life to save two Afghan children
who were trapped in a minefield, on July 21, 2002, two weeks before his death.
, in the firefight.
Khadr was captured and subsequently imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay
. He later pled guilty to, among other things, the murder of Speer.
Prior to his plea of guilty to Speer's murder, Khadr became the focus of several legal disputes.
On February 4, 2008, US officials accidentally released an unredacted version of sworn testimony
which — according to Khadr's lawyers — showed that Khadr was not responsible for Speer's death.
In January 2006 Colonel
Morris Davis
, Khadr's prosecutor, in statements to the press, said that Khadr owed his life to American medics who stepped over the dead body of their colleague to treat Khadr's wounds. Speer died from his wounds on August 6, 2002, at the age of 28.
However, the accidentally-released sworn testimony revealed that medics dressed Speer's wounds before they dressed Khadr's.
On the second anniversary of Speer's murder, SFC Speer's widow Tabitha and a comrade of his, Layne Morris, initiated legal proceedings to claim compensation from the estate of Omar Khadr's father Ahmed Khadr.
Speer enlisted in the Army in 1992. On the day of his murder he was part of a squad assigned the task of going through the ruins, looking for weapons, and evidence of terrorism.
training at the Joint Special Operations University in Hurlburt Field
,
Florida
.
The Pak Tribune reported:
Delta Force
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
team who was mortally wounded during a skirmish in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, on July 27, 2002. Speer, who was not wearing a helmet at the time because the mission called for indigenous clothing, suffered a head wound from a grenade and succumbed to his injuries approximately two weeks later.
Speer was awarded the Soldier's Medal for risking his life to save two Afghan children
who were trapped in a minefield, on July 21, 2002, two weeks before his death.
Death
The incident received attention because of the admitted murder of Speer by fifteen-year-old Canadian citizen, Omar KhadrOmar Khadr
Omar Ahmed Khadr is a Canadian child soldier and one of the juveniles held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He was convicted of five charges under the United States Military Commissions Act of 2009 including murder in violation of the law of war and providing material support for terrorism,...
, in the firefight.
Khadr was captured and subsequently imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay detainment camp
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility of the United States located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. The facility was established in 2002 by the Bush Administration to hold detainees from the war in Afghanistan and later Iraq...
. He later pled guilty to, among other things, the murder of Speer.
Prior to his plea of guilty to Speer's murder, Khadr became the focus of several legal disputes.
On February 4, 2008, US officials accidentally released an unredacted version of sworn testimony
which — according to Khadr's lawyers — showed that Khadr was not responsible for Speer's death.
In January 2006 Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Morris Davis
Morris Davis
Colonel Morris D. Davis is a United States Air Force officer and lawyer, was appointed to serve as the third Chief Prosecutor in the Guantanamo military commissions....
, Khadr's prosecutor, in statements to the press, said that Khadr owed his life to American medics who stepped over the dead body of their colleague to treat Khadr's wounds. Speer died from his wounds on August 6, 2002, at the age of 28.
However, the accidentally-released sworn testimony revealed that medics dressed Speer's wounds before they dressed Khadr's.
On the second anniversary of Speer's murder, SFC Speer's widow Tabitha and a comrade of his, Layne Morris, initiated legal proceedings to claim compensation from the estate of Omar Khadr's father Ahmed Khadr.
Speer enlisted in the Army in 1992. On the day of his murder he was part of a squad assigned the task of going through the ruins, looking for weapons, and evidence of terrorism.
Combat medic training
Speer received 18 Delta combat medicCombat medic
Combat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...
training at the Joint Special Operations University in Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
,
Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Christopher J. Speer Medical Clinic
The infirmary at a special forces base in Nangahar Province is known as the "Christopher J. Speer Medical Clinic".The Pak Tribune reported: