The Wounded Warrior Regiment had its seventh anniversary on April 3, 2014, where they rededicated their building, on Marine Corps Base Quantico, in the name of Navy Cross recipient, Lance Cpl. Christopher Adlesperger. Adlesperger gave his life for his country in 2004 while fighting insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq.

Lt. Col. Andrew McNulty, currently the capabilities officer for Marine Corps Combat Development Command, was Adlesperger’s company commander in Afghanistan, and told the story of how Adlesperger earned the Navy Cross by single-handedly clearing a house and rooftop after his squad was hit hard by enemy machine gun fire. 

 “For a man who was not yet 19, Chris had already been through so much, even being nominated for a Navy Cross,” said McNulty. “He was made a fire team leader as a private first class. Even though he was so young, his actions as a leader put him on the same level as some of the other, more experienced leaders throughout the company.”

A month after those events, Adlesperger was killed as he lead his squad into a courtyard where enemy insurgents were waiting to ambush the Marines.

Adlesperger’s father, Gary, spoke during the ceremony to convey his thanks to those who came and to the Marine Corps for all they had done for his family.

“From the time we saw him graduate boot camp, all the way to today, the Marine Corps has supported this family the whole way,” he said. “The transformation we saw in him impressed us so much. As time went on and the Marine Corps became a bigger part of our lives, the more impressed we became by the organization.

Kristopher Battles, a former staff sergeant and graphic artist for the Marine Corps, painted a portrait of Adlesperger that hangs in the entryway of the building. During the ceremony, Battles presented Adlesperger’s parents with small copies of the portrait to take home.

“Every day, I walk in this building at 4:30 in the morning and see those piercing eyes of [Adlesperger],” said Sgt. Maj. Michael Mack, sergeant major of the Wounded Warrior Regiment. “It reminds me of all my brothers and sisters who were killed or wounded fighting for this country.”