This is the Dedicated page for Gator and other reflections of his life. Memories of Gator wherever you can access the page, Legend of Being: Gator
His older brother by 18 months Edward Gathercole shares the following: "May my brother, my best friend, my hero, and my continued source of motivation, have peace in his transition to what may come next on his Journey. I love you Christopher 'Gator' Ga
thercole! May God Bless My Brother's Soul in Eternal Gratitude! My Brother, Specialist Christopher Gathercole was killed in Action, May, 26, 2008 while serving combat operations in Ghazni Afghanistan, he was 21, born October 16th, 1986. He was an elite member of the Army's special operations, 2nd/75 Ranger Regiment, often conducting night sweeps. see the film Black Hawk Down and the guys scaling the cliffs on D-Day in the film Saving Private Ryan!). Chris was a light machine gunner, and soon to be squad leader. Most special operation battalions deploy for a period of three months, get to live 6 months at a time before they are deployed again, and are often on-call in case of needed deployment. This was his second deployment. Rangers go through our military's most strenuous and challenging training, that even other branches of the military under go, like Navy SEALS, he actually trained with them, he trained and worked with FBI also. Getting into and graduating Ranger school is a huge feat, and a testament to my brothers character who had a very difficult upbringing. Rangers work a strong offensive, what is not covered in the news, and places where the majority doesn't think we are. He received the purple heart, GWOT (Global War on Terror) Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal. He leaves behind a child also, Emma Gathercole, Born Feb. 9th 2008, just months before his last deployment. His Squad Leader Leroy Petry was awarded the Medal of Honor for events that took place that fateful day in 2008." Video Documenting Fateful Mission: https://youtu.be/1Q8CK6vmQzg?t=9m46s (Pentagon took video down: here’s another link with part of the story: https://youtu.be/pep3xNHlSgQ )
White House Ceremony where President of the United States honors Christopher Gathercole's sacrifice: https://youtu.be/2KSI9jmZL9o?t=10m33s
From the obituary written by their CASA, an instrumental advocate to both these men:
GATHERCOLE, Christopher - Born October 16, 1986, Died May 26, 2008, during combat operations while serving his country in Afghanistan. Loving little boy, precocious teen, strong warrior. He gave what he could, but left us wanting so much more. Chris came into the world with a wonderful smile. It defined his being and captured anyone's heart who ever met him. He and his brother Edward were the inseparable pair. Quick to laugh, oblivious to harm, and always looking for mischief. Those early years became difficult and Chris entered the Sonoma County foster care system. Because of many different circumstances, Chris was eventually separated from his brother Edward, and he ended up residing in several different foster placements throughout Sonoma County. Chris and his brother traveled parallel, but separate, paths during their teen years and finally were able to reunite in 2002. Chris' life was an odyssey. He went from the security of family to the unfamiliarity of foster placement; from one school to another, from friends in one place to friends in another; from high school graduation to Army enlistment; and finally from infantryman to the elite status of Ranger. He was a social being who loved interaction with his friends, but chafed at the mechanics of school and work. Chris sometimes put too much of his love and belief in others who were unable to reciprocate in kind. That led to increasing turmoil in his late teens when he was finally forced to face some harsh realities. During that time came the transformation from child to young man. Gone was the dismissal of personal responsibility. Gone was the disregard for those who cared about him most. Chris embraced his newly found direction and committed to making his life worthy of the love and support he had received from others. That resolve motivated him to graduate from high school, join the Army, set higher goals, excel at all the challenges he faced, and ultimately emerge as a self-made man. Chris is survived by his close brother, Edward; loving sisters Jennifer Daly and Sarah Ferrell; caring grandmothers Maryann Haines and Heidi Moore; devoted CASA Terry Vail; Partner in Heart Victoria Nickel; Aunts Charlene Haines, Candace Wilson, Claudette Biemeret, and Nancy Giordano; Uncles Gordy Giordano and John Wilson; cousins Amber Haines, Emily and Sophia Wilson and Sharmagne and Todd Sterbens; niece Ahnna Peterson; second cousins Cheyenne and Sierra Sterbens; Stepdad Stan Ferrell; Uncle Bill Ferrell; father Eddie Ray Gathercole and mother Catherine Ferrell. Individual respects for Chris may be paid from 1pm to 8 pm on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Eggen & Lance Chapel, 1540 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Full military burial services for Chris will be conducted Sunday June 8th at 2:30 p.m. at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Ave., Santa Rosa. The family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to those individuals who cared for, protected, and showed love to Chris during the time he was in the foster care system: True to Life Children's Services, Millie Gilson, Jacqueline Gillespie, Rebecca Parker, Deborah Gilday, Mimi Donahue, Sue May, Alex Hamberis, Greg Begin, Lupe Dyer, Laurie Sutton, Judge Arnold Rosenfield, Judge Mark Tansil, Commissioner Carla Bonilla, and Commissioner Dennis Beaman. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?pid=110901287 .Yo4UBEB0.dpuf
Speaking of this miraculous advocate who was asked to do the heart wrenching task of writing Christopher's Obituary. Edward and Christopher had the tremendous fortune of attaining a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) in Sonoma County. This was Edward's second CASA, and Edward advocated to their social worker that they attain another one for both brothers. Edward's First CASA was Joel Green and was apart of the team that brought CASA to Sonoma County. May he Rest In Peace, and much gratitude to him and his family. Upon recommendation by the social worker one man was found and accepted the ridiculous challenge of advocating for the Gathercole Boys, and we love and appreciate this man very much. Through the CASA program and their advocates, so many youth in need, get an extra voice in court, and experience the validation of an adult standing up for their needs. And in some cases lives are saved while a stable sound adult is advocating and at times mentoring a lost soul, while putting the ball in their court, to manage life's expectations. More on CASA here: www.sonomacasa.org
