One Warrior’s Story
ByThe 2009 Patriot Cup Salutes Captain Christopher Schickling, a Wounded Warrior
Captain Christopher Schickling, a native of San Antonio, graduated from Marine Officer Candidate School in January 2002. After completing OCS, Schickling was selected as an infantry officer and enrolled in Marine Infantry Officer’s Course, Quantico, Virginia. Less than one month after graduating from IOC, Schickling was deployed to Iraq as Platoon Commander. The following year Schickling deployed to Iraq a second time as an infantry platoon commander in 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Batallion, 4th Marine Regiment serving during major combat operations in the city of Najaf. In August of 2004, Schickling was leading his platoon through the Wadi al Sallam, the world’s largest graveyard, when a mortar round landed within 10 meters of his position. Schickling suffered shrapnel wounds to his left hand and groin, and lost 50% of the hearing in his left ear. Schickling was evacuated by helicopter to Baghdad, where surgery was performed on his left hand. Offered the chance to return home, Schickling volunteered to rejoin his platoon fighting in Najaf one week later. Schickling went on to deploy to Iraq for a third time the following year. His military decorations include the Navy Achievement Medal with “V” for Valor in Combat and the Marine Combat Action Medal.
