Cuyama Valley residents are mourning the death of Sgt. Christopher Muniz, who died Dec. 11 in Afghanistan. Muniz is the town’s first causality from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The 24-year-old was one of two soldiers killed when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in the Kunar province.
The community will come together on Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. for a celebration of Muniz’s life at Cuyama Valley High School, 2300 Highway 166, in Cuyama.
“[Chris] was a tremendously compassionate kid,” football coach Biff Charlton said of his former student. “He worked extremely hard and he was very giving. He would always help any kid who needed help. … And he loved his country.”
Charlton said the Muniz family plans to have a memorial service in Bakersfield, and there have already been fallen solider services in Afghanistan and Hawaii, where Muniz was based.
On Dec. 15, Gov. Jerry Brown ordered that flags be flown at half-staff over the state Capitol. Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown also sent Muniz’s family a letter of condolence.
Charlton said the huge amount of support from the community has been very touching. A memorial fund has been set up at Chevron Valley Credit Union branches in Taft and Bakersfield.
For more information about the memorial fund, call 1-888-737-4282.
For more details about the celebration of life ceremony set for Dec. 28, call the high school at (661) 766-2293.
Muniz was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
This article appears in Dec 22-29, 2011.
