Continuing to remember local hero and former Wildcat Chris Moon

It is another meaningful Memorial Day weekend, and as many remember friends and family that have served, we remember our former Wildcat, Chris Moon.

For those that didn’t know, or weren’t aware, we covered the amazing story of local hero and former Wildcat Chris Moon a couple of years ago, and in case you missed it, here is the story again, because it is a great reminder this Memorial Day.

A bright and talented young kid, Chris was destined for greatness. He was an extremely talented athlete, a loving son, and after a remarkable career at Tucson High School, he committed to Arizona Baseball and then head coach Andy Lopez coming out of high school.

Arizona Wildcats

This all despite being drafted in the 35th round of the 2007 MLB by the Atlanta Braves.

Here’s the funny thing about life, he never actually made it to the Spring to play for the Wildcats. Despite enrolling in school, Chris always felt he was called for and meant to do more, so he did what not many could do in that situation, he turned in his glove, bat, and cleats for boots, a uniform, and a rifle.

Our version of Pat Tillman, former Wildcat Chris Moon joined his service brothers and sisters overseas to fight for the freedoms for the less fortunate as well as preserve ours here.

Quitting baseball and joining the Army, Chris became an elite Sniper in the process, and it wasn’t until September of 2009 until he was finally deployed with the 4th Brigade Combat Team to Afghanistan.

Serving one successful deployment with his team, Chris then came back to the United States around Christmas to enjoy some much needed time and rest with family and friends before going back.

Unfortunately, as Chris left the comfort of his parents’ home to return to the intense fighting in Afghanistan, little did he or anyone know that that would be the last time they would see each other.

Months later the unthinkable would happen as Chris would come face-to-face with a situation that every soldier fears, the presence of IEDs (Improvised Bombing Devices). While out on a routine foot patrol, Moon would cross an unfortunate path with an IED that was detonated remotely by a Taliban fighter. The blast would be devastating.

Rattling the Earth and sending shockwaves to the soldiers also on patrol, in a panic, his team rushed to the IED blast as they found their fellow soldier Chris laying in a five-foot-wide, two-foot deep crater, suffering with catastrophic injuries.

Quickly, they applied aid, doing their best to keep him alive and ushering him off in a medevac. Unfortunately, there was little anyone could do as days later, Moon would succumb to his injuries, tragically passing just weeks before his 21st birthday.

Just a local kid from Tucson, a once young and promising athlete saw his life cut short while paying the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect his country.

Nearly 11 years later, his legend continues to live on as a life-size statue now sits perfectly perched overlooking the pristine baseball diamonds of Cherry Field in his honor. Beautiful words written by Andy Morales also adorn the statue telling the amazing story of Moon!

His statue continues to serve as a daily reminder to us, and on a day like today, we continue to remember and honor Moon, as well as the countless others like him!