Saying Farewell to a Soldier and Leader

More than a year after his death, the friends and family of Army 2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon gathered in Arlington National Cemetery yesterday to honor the fallen soldier, who had a knack for leadership.

A horse-drawn caisson carried a small box containing his cremated remains to the cemetery's Section 60, followed by more than 90 mourners bundled against biting winds. Folded flags were presented to his parents, Randall and Susan Loudon, and his widow, Jacey.

Loudon, 23, of Brockport, Pa., died in Baghdad on Oct. 17, 2006, when a makeshift bomb detonated near his vehicle.

Also killed in the incident were Cpl. David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kan.; Cpl. Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pa.; and Cpl. Joseph C. Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans.

All four soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Hood, Tex. Loudon became the 396th service member killed in Iraq to be buried at Arlington.

Loudon excelled in the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania before graduating in 2005.

"When faced with adversity, he was just one of those guys that always maintained a positive attitude," said Lt. Col. William Bialozor, chairman of the ROTC program at Slippery Rock. "He wasn't focused on what I call the misery of the moment -- he looked past it."

Loudon was a natural leader who readily took on positions of responsibility, Bialozor said. He recalled that, during Loudon's senior year, Loudon became the captain of the Ranger Challenge team, which required extensive group training to participate in a physically demanding competition between ROTC cadets from different schools.

Loudon took the task of running the team, and even though Slippery Rock is smaller than some of the competing schools, it finished in the top third.

"He was a task-oriented man but cared about his soldiers deeply, cared about his cadets," Bialozor said. "A fantastic mentor for the rest of the students around here because he understood the mission but cared about folks. The rest of the folks looked up to him."

Bialozor said Loudon's dedicated and honorable nature made him one of the top soldiers Bialozor has commissioned in the program. Loudon was put in charge of training during his senior year and, despite the pressure, never buckled, Bialozor said.

"What a fine example of a young man who worked hard, worked for his goals and achieved his goals," Bialozor said.

"And despite getting lost overseas, we understood that, truth be told, he was right where he wanted to be, doing exactly what he wanted to be doing."

Loudon graduated from Brockway Area Junior/Senior High School in 2001. His guidance counselor, Alex Madalis, remembers Loudon more than half a decade after his graduation, describing him as involved, outgoing and likable.

"This is a very personable young man," Madalis said. "Just a really conscientious, well-liked, well-mannered, hard-working individual."

At school, Loudon worked on the school newspaper and played in the band for four years. He also wrestled on the varsity club, played soccer and tennis, was a member of the chorus and acted in school plays.

In his senior yearbook, Loudon said: "I plan to attend college and pursue a military career." Within four years, he had done both.