Captain Christopher J. Sullivan, 29, of Princeton, Massachusetts, died January 18, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his parked vehicle. Sullivan was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Army Captain Christopher J. Sullivan was a protector and always tried to keep his family and friends from worrying, often telling them the situation was not as grim as it appeared in Iraq.
Amy Lilley, Sullivan’s sister from Scarborough, Maine, said she had heard from her brother on January 10, 2005. ”We were passing around joke e-mails,” she said.
He was scheduled to return home to his wife and son in a few weeks, the government reported.
Sullivan had been working as an armor officer, in charge of the tanks and vehicles in the field, said Maureen Ramsey, a public affairs specialist for the Defense Department.
He had entered the Army in March 1998 and had taken on the responsibility of company commander, leaving a job at headquarters.Â
He also had served in Kosovo and Germany.
Sullivan felt it was important to thank veterans who had preceded him and always emphasized that soldiers in Iraq were proud to serve, his family said.
Sullivan’s interest in military service started early. At age 14, he joined the Civil Air Patrol. He served in the ROTC while attending the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where he majored in mechanical engineering. He sought to continue the family tradition of military service, following the path of his grandfather, father, and two uncles.
27 Comments
Army Captain Christopher J Sullivan
First and foremost I would like to extend my most sincere thank you to Dorothy to requesting that I be the one to carry Christopherâs stone up to Baxter Peak as a part of the first âTeam Goldâ team. It was a great honor and absolute pleasure to be selected by you to keep Christopherâs memory alive and well. I know I will never forget about Christopher after this incredible demanding hike.
I would like to thank Christopher personally for helping me get through this hike. At the start of the day I was so sure and certain that I was physically and mentally prepared for the task at hand. As the morning went on I soon found out that I had caught some type of bug and my stomach was not feeling well at all. But I kept thinking of getting Christopher to Baxter peak. That was the mission, and I was going to accomplish that mission. With each step I felt slower and slower but kept on. I owe that to Christopher. I wouldnât have made it all the way to Baxter peak without his help.
I feel like I learned a lot about Christopher from your email as well as some other sites, but a few things you said about him really stuck with me. From what I could tell, Christopher was the textbook definition of a âmilitary lifer.â He learned about Patriotism and honor and duty and sacrifice from his elder family members and kept that tradition on even as a young child. I could picture him reading his new christmas books and analyzing all the specs on the tanks and jet fighters in the books you would get him. Then starting his next step by joining the Civil Air Patrol and ROTC programs at various levels in school. I cannot say enough words to thank Christopher for his service and sacrifice with his military service.
It was a great honor to learn about your son and hike up to the top of Maine, where he and his sister went one summer. I will never forgot about Christopher and I will remember his story and the strength that he gave me to conquer the task. With all my love, thank you for requesting that I carry Christopherâs stone.
Dylan âSherpaâ Harris
Gold Star Brother
On 11 June 2017 Catherine Gordon wrote:
Today I had the honor of carrying the stones of two fallen heroes for the Summit Project: Army SSG Eric Ross from my town, Glenburn ME, and Capt Christopher Sullivan of Princeton, MA. When I went to the MEPS office to pick up a memorial stone, the gentleman there said, “This is Eric’s stone. It’s new and hasn’t been hiked with yet.” I looked at his information and saw that he loved hunting and fishing just like I do and I knew it was the stone I was meant to carry this weekend. Christopher’s stone was next to Eric’s and I couldn’t leave it behind so both accompanied me up Borestone Mountain. It was an incredibly beautiful day and I felt privileged to be carrying the stones to honor their memory. As I thought about all they gave for this country, I hoped I could live a life worthy of their sacrifice. I carried their stones for a hike but will carry their stories for a lifetime. I learned so much about Eric and Christopher’s service and sacrifice for our country.
Sorry this is so late in coming. Thank You for taking Christopherâs stone and story with you, he loved adventure and visiting new places. We have been so blessed by the caring of others. As long as there are such thoughtful and caring folks like you we can trust that Christopher will not be forgotten. God Bless. Chrisâs Mom
Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan,
It was a distinct honor to carry Chrisâ stone at Acadia. I carried Chris along with one of my fallen comrades. We all served in Iraq at the same time which is just one of the connections I discovered about Chris. Another connection I made was that he and I were both from Massachusetts. And as I told you when we met I had the privilege of carrying Chrisâ stone down Mount Katahdin for a sick hiker back in May. Iâm not going to lie, Chrisâ stone has some weight to it, and I could feel it the whole time. Like a typical company commander he was pushing me to do my best.
Thank you for being a part of The Summit Project and thank you for sharing Chrisâ memory with us.
Andy Pattle
1SG, USARNG (RET)
Dear Dolly and Jim, on Sunday, 5/27/2018, I had the honor and the priviledge to carry the stone and the story of your beloved son Christopher. I again offer my sympathies to you both. Chris will never be forgotten, and the stories that you shared with me on the phone, and in person at Baxter, will always remain in my heart, and I will continue to share these stories of Chris. Your heartache is evident, and I just want to say, from my own experience in losing a loved one, that Chris wants you both to smile when you think of him, remember the happy times, and know that you will be together again some day. There were so many good times that you shared with me, the generosity Chris had, especially to the homeless folks he met during his time with friends in Boston. The desire Chris had to first become a pilot for the navy, then chosing to join the Army. It was always his wish to give back to his country. Chris was so loved by everyone in his unit, he was genuinely a warm and caring person. Later he became a loving husband and father. You both raised an amazing young man, I commend you both for that. I will always think of Chris with a smile on his face, and he has inspired me to be a better person. He will never be forgotten! I hope to cross paths with both of you again. Thank you for sharing the newspaper clippings and scrapbook of Chris. He was so handsome, so loved. Love never ends. Your love for Chris was carried into the heavens with him. I know he is smiling down on all of you. Hugs, Lisa Jean
My name is Calvin Peck and Iâm a sophomore at Nokomis Regional High. Every year the JROTC program at the school takes the sophomore class to do the summit project and climb a mountain. The summit project is a great experience and overall a great program because it helps us to remember the fallen. Even if we canât remember all of them, you will never forget the story of the stone you carry. This year I had the honor of carrying the stone of U.S. ARMY CPT Christopher J. Sullivan, up Tumbledown mountain mountain in Franklin county Maine. I chose this stone because I wanted to carry a stone from the ARMY and he was an officer.
The morning of the climb we all loaded on to the bus around 8:00. By the time we got to the mountain it was around 10:30. My group was the first to get to the pond, in between the two peaks, where we waited for the others to catch up. Once everyone was there we headed up to Tumbledown peak. Once we were all there we removed our stones from our packs and began talking about our stones. Listening to everyones story was sad but it was important to hear their story and remember each person.
Before we went on the climb I researched Christopher’s life. Christopher James Sullivan was 29 years old and was from Princeton Mass. He started showing interest in the the service at the age 14 where he joined the Civil Air Patrol. He attended the University of Mass in Lowell where he was in ROTC. He joined the ARMY in March of 1998 and shortly after became a company commander. He often emailed his family telling them the things were better then they were so they wouldn’t be worried. He died Jan 18 2005 in Baghdad Iraq when and IED detonated near his vehicle. He was supposed to return home in just 2 weeks.
It was an honor to carry the stone of CPT Chris. J. Sullivan this year. CPT Sullivan was a good man and gave it all to protect our country so It was good to be able to share his legacy even just a little bit with the few people I was with. Thank you, rest in peace Christopher.
-Calvin Peck
Thank you Calvin for carrying Chrisâs stone and for your message. Chrisâs Birthday was yesterday, finding your message today brought me joy, it means so much to know Chris is not Forgotten. Iâm sure you would have liked him, he was a good friend to many, was dependable and had a great sense of humor.
I hope you take every advantage of JROTC. You will learn many life skills that will help you in the future. Hope you have a good school year. THANK YOU
I had the honor and privlidge to carry the stone of Army Captain Christopher James Sullivan.
Army Captain Christopher James Sullivan, 29 of Princeton Massachussetts, died January 18th 2005
in Baghdad, Iraq when an I.E.D detonated near his vehicle. Sullivan was assigned to the 1st
Battallion, 5th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvery Division Fort hood Texas.
At a young age Christopher joined the local Civil Air Patrol and served with the ROTC in college. He belived it was important to thank and show appreciation for our Vetrans. He was proud to serve and often downplayed how bad it could be while he was deployed so his family would not worry as much. Christopher was a son, father and husband. He loved his family very much. He was killed a few short weeks before he was supposed to come home. He had always made sure to take care of his men; He made it a priority to make sure they had everything they needed.
This was my 2nd T.S.P. I am still amazed at the bravery and gratitude of the Gold Star Families. The day was beautiful and set the tone for the mission ahead of me. Team Bubble hiked Pemetic North Ridge trail – it is rated as a strenuous. From taking the first step on the trail I could feel Christophers stone resting on my back. As we climbed I was humbled to be going up the trail. Thinking of the courage and bravery and the sacrifice of Christopher and his family. We had two young kids on our team, it was quite amazing to watch them push through with no complaining so they could complete the mission in order to tell the story of their stone on the top of Cadilac. When we reached the top there were a lot of people. As we gathered in our sharing circle the amount of patriotism and gratitude was so overwhelming it was like we were the only ones there. I learn so much everytime. I was lucky enough to meet James and Dorthy Sullivan. They were so kind and welcoming and shared stories and how much they loved and how proud they are. Dorthy gave me a pin with Christopher’s picture on it. I have it near my desk so I am remined of the sacrifices made by these brave soldiers and families so we can live in this amazing country and to be able to vote and have the freedom and choices that not everyone on the planet does. I will continue to tell his story.
Much Gratitude
Lynne Brown – Team Bubble
Before this Memorial Day hike, I said that I will be smiling knowing that Chris is no longer a stranger to me. After the hike, I am smiling even more knowing that he is no longer a stranger to others I shared his story with this weekend. Thatâs really the whole purpose of the Summit Project, that no fallen hero ever becomes a stranger.
In carrying Chrisâs stone, I was carried the memory of a son, brother, father, husband, and leader. Like Chris, Iâm from Massachusetts and went to college there. But, when carrying the heavy stone from the beach that Chris spent his summers on in Maine, I felt at home. And, I know he was there with me. I could hear Chrisâs spirit, his humor, kindness, devotion, and courage, in the voices of his parents. I could see his commitment to his country in the eyes of our Veterans. I could feel the story of Chris come to life.
Chris was determined to serve his country. He was determined to be a leader. And just as important was that he was determined to be a man for others. Someone mentioned the word Agape on my hike. Agape is Greek for a selfless kind of love; the kind of love that sacrifices and asks for nothing in return. I would say that this word describes Chrisâs character very well. Whether it was in civilian life when he emptied his wallet for a homeless man late at night in Boston or going back to fix a home that his tank hit with some fellow soldiers on duty in Kosovo, Chris was always selfless. He was Agape. He was the type of man you want your son to become, the type of soldier you want by your side, and the type of friend you want to be around.
This weekend made it especially evident that I was carrying the stone and story of a son (thank you for your kindness and compassion Dolly and Jim). I would like to think that one day, Chrisâs son will read these letters and come to know and understand the type of selfless and honorable man that his father was and will continue to be. I was truly honored to carry the stone and the story of Captain Christopher Sullivan this Memorial Day and beyond.
Semper Memento,
Cameron Cullen
I was very honored to carry your son’s stone and present it to you. Throughout the ride I spoke with your son and told him all this was done for him. What a courageous man. I hoped during his battle time that he felt loved by his family and his Country. I sincerely feel humbled to have spoken with your parents Capt. Christopher Sullivan. They miss you. Thank you for letting me bring such an important stone.
To the Family of Captain Christopher Sullivan
My name is Grady Thurlow I am member of the 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor Maine. Our section had decided to do a team building exercise during our week of Annual Training. We agreed that Gulf Hagas would be a great place to take the team for a hike. As I thought about it I suggested that we do something more, to include a community service aspect to our hike. I spoke to them about The Summit Project and how I thought this would be something that we as military members could really get involved in. I have done several events with The Summit Project and each time I come away with the respect and gratitude of these fallen heroes. We all agreed that this would be our mission for the day to carry, think, reflect, and talk about the fallen heroes that each one of us carried. As I reached out to the Summit Project I selected 16 different fallen heroes for our team, not knowing the many similarities that our team members found while learning about their Hero. I myself had chosen a different stone, but the day before the hike when we picked the stones up from Portland found out that stone was not available and they had given me Chrisâs stone. As fate would have it as I read about Capt Sullivan the similarities that we had in common jump out at me. So in Jan of 2005 I started my deployment training at Fort Hood, Texas. From there I deployed to Iraq in March of 2005, where we did convoy security. I to would tell my loved ones every week that everything was fine over there and not to worry.
30 July was the day we chose to do our hike. That morning we all gathered at the shop, secured our gear and placed our fallen hero in our packs. We all got on the bus and started our hour and 30 min drive to the head of the trail. As I was driving our team I started to reflect on Chrisâs memory and the leadership skills he displayed. As the Superintendent I to have the responsibility of the men and women in my section. Once on the trail we hiked for a while then stopped for a break. At these rest times several team members would tell us about their fallen hero. I broke the ice first by telling about Chris, his sense of humor, his dedication to fellow soldiers, and his family tradition of military service. Once we continued on along the trail we had several more opportunities to speak about our heroes. Once at the head of the Canyon we gathered up for a team photo, and my thoughts went back to the pride Chris must have felt for the soldiers under his command, the sacrifices they made and the honor in which he severed. I am so grateful for the opportunity to carry Chrisâs stone and the memories of him that I will be able to share to other people. I want you to know that his name will not be forgotten and may we never forget your sacrifice to this Country.
Sincerely,
Grady A. Thurlow
Hi Grady,
Please forgive me for not replying sooner. Thank You for carrying our sonâs stone and story. I think you would have liked Chris, while he was very responsible and dependable, he never took himself to serious. He lived life well, did what needed to be done and made the most of down time. If you ever see this posting, I would love to see a picture of your team . It never ceases to amaze me, how thoughtful people are and how much they care about Honoring the Fallen. Chris spent a lot of his time off while stationed in Germany visiting WWII Memorials, Cemeteries and Battle Areas, he truly understood the cost of Freedom, and appreciated veterans.
Thank You for Your Service to Our Country.
Chrisâs Mom
Dorothy, James and Amy;
To the family of Capt Christopher J Sullivan my sincerest sympathy for your loss. To a bright, aspiring young man just beginning his life as a family man who had already achieved so much in his education and military career; impacting and inspiring those around him… You continue to do so as we remember, learn, share and honor you.
I had the pleasure of participating in the Spirit âhikeâ at TSP BSP 2019 which Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan; James and Dorothy also participated in. I spent some time later visiting with them afterwards in conversations about the Vietnam War, POWs and their sons service in Iraq. I specifically remember saying something to the affect of being sad that we were losing soldiers for someone elseâs war. Dorothy was quick to share that those young men and women were proud to be there; they were making a difference in the Iraqi peoples lives. This has stayed with me since that Memorial Day weekend.
For the hike at ANP I had requested to hike the Northridge Trail – Team Kebo because it was the only trail i had not yet hiked to the summit of Cadillac Mtn. I was then asked if I would like to be a Team Lead for this hike; humbled, honored and nervous I accepted the role and challenge. It could not have been more fitting and I was excited to learn I had been assigned to carry Capt Sullivanâs stone. During my preparation for this hike, as a team member and Team Leader I kept âSullyâ in the forefront of my mind. Wanting to ensure I honored him proudly; sharing info with the team for a safe, fun and honorable hike together for all our heroes. Iâm glad to know he was thought of as a light hearted Officer, as I like to use humor to deal with tough situations. I may not be as witty as some of my teammates but laughs were had along the way.
Capt Sullivan was deployed in January 2004 to Operation Iraqi Freedom; freedom is a word, a feeling, an experience that not all know. In talking with Christopherâs parents they spoke of how his unit would escort the Iraqi children to school to ensure they made it safely. We talked about how we could not imagine living in those conditions, where families and children feared for their safety to go to school, to play, to walk down the street. All the while during our conversation the families, kids, volunteers were talking, laughing, running around us in the tent as we had come together to celebrate and honor this one of many heroes this weekend. Honoring our freedom.
In my research of Capt Sullivan I found a quote from a seventh grader who spoke at a Veterans Day service in 2005. Her father had also been deployed to Iraq. She said, âChristopher Sullivan and my dad have both bravely stepped up to be those heroes risking their lives. What brought them both to war was the aspiration to make a difference in the Iraqi peoples lives and to protect their own country as well.â This has been the recurring sentiment shared about Christopher; a generous and giving person; admired by all for his sense of humor, humility, and dedication to family, freedom and country.
Decisions and directions needed to be made and shared throughout the preparation of and on the hike. At the summit i shared that today i carried the stone and story of Capt Christopher j Sullivan but on this hike he carried me through some tough decisions that needed to be made on the trail. I did chat with him for a brief moment; isolated from the team when i had to make a tough but right call. A leader is only as good as their team. I was so proud to be a part of this team and how we organically came together to assess and overcome the obstacles presented. Knowing that our mission was about honoring these men and women, feeling their character qualities guiding us along the way is such a deep feeling that words cannot describe. Thank you Sully for being there with us.
It was a very moving privilege to have had Dorothy and James join the team at the summit ceremony. I was very nervous about making the proud how Christopher was honored on this hike. I may not have shared it all in words at the summit, he truly was with me on this hike. And to be sitting, holding his motherâs arm and hand and to see his fathers pride as he stood in the circle during the ceremony was a precious gift.
I had the pleasure and honor to meet Amy just before we stepped off for the hike. She found me; she was hiking with her husband on another team honoring two more heroes. Im sure Christopher is proud and moved by your involvement in this honor event. Im so glad we all got together for the post hike meal and wish we could have talked more about Christopher. But sharing this meal was just as meaningful even if we hadnât spoke at all. Just being near his family who saw him grow up and knee who he was from a baby boy to a young man was a special privilege. Thank you for sharing your son, your brother with us. I look forward to continuing to learn about him from you all; sharing him with those around me, honoring his service and ultimate sacrifice.
Respectfully,
P.J. âBelleâ Laney
Remember, Honor, Not Forgotten
To the family and friends of Captain Christopher James Sullivan,
When I answered the call from Greg to be a Team Lead for Team Red for The Summit Project earlier this year, I had no idea it would be leading a group of 11 incredible, selfless, and courageous souls through an uncharted course as we navigated COVID-19.
I was tasked with carrying Chrisâs stone and sharing his story with my team at the summit of the Owl. This is a gorgeous mountain with sometimes difficult terrain, and I felt extremely honored to carry his stone on such a challenge! However, due to COVID-19, we were forced to cancel TSP at BSP. The more I thought about this happening, the more I thought about Chris and how he took on so many amazingly difficult challenges in his career. I thought of his bravery. Of his leadership. And of his humor. I wanted to take on my role as Team Lead with all of these qualities and had his memory to guide me throughout all of this uncharted pandemic territory. I am forever grateful for this and can honestly say that I felt his presence with me as I worked to balance everything happening around me at an extremely rapid pace.
I knew in my heart that we had to continue on with our mission no matter what. And so we met and elected to do exactly thatâwe would carry out our mission despite the event itself being cancelled. We independently participated in some way. We brought our activities back and shared them virtually with our team. There were no stones or circle ceremonies…but there were still memorial hikes, rucks, walks, and silent reflection.
As we were supposed to be in Baxter on the Owl, I elected to hike the only other mountain I wanted to be on that now means everything TSP to meâCadillac. With every step, I kept focus of his bravery and courage and how I wanted to honor him by being the best leader I can be for our incredible Team Red. I kept my thoughts on Chris, you as his family and friends, all of our hikers, our Gold Star family members, and all of our fallen heroes. I returned to Bar Harbor the next day on a day trip with my daughter, who also holds the TSP mission in her heart. I was able to sit in one of our favorite spots overlooking the ocean and share Chrisâs stories with her. She sat quietly and listened to every word…ensuring that some day she will be able to share his story with others as well. Perhaps she will have the honor and privilege of carrying his stone as well.
I thought of how I had looked forward to hopefully meeting you all at Baxter this year and how I long to learn more stories about Chris as we approach our next taskâTSP at ANP. We have chosen to remain in our roles and selected teams and we will see to it that we will carry out our initial mission to share the stories of our fallen heroes with our teammates at this event. We will ensure that our Maine heroes are not forgotten. I will be in touch for more stories to share in the coming months and look forward to physically carrying his stone and further sharing his story in the fall.
Respectfully,
Courtney âGPSâ Evans
Team Red Team Lead
TSP at BSP 2020
MHANF
Dear Courtney,
Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate you taking the time to learn about Chris âTanker Sullyâ, and for carrying his stone and story with you up Cadillac Mountain.
I truly appreciate you sharing with your daughter as Chris loved kids, he shared so much about the school kids in Kosovo and how their first duty everyday was to guard the children to get them to school safely. One of my favorite photos is one he sent of some of the children and himself. I always think God gave Chris a glimpse of what his son would look like because the one little boy in the photo looked just like the photo of his son David that my daughter-in-lawâs mother sent me when David was 6. Chris was so excited when he knew he was going to be a dad, sadly he didnât get much time with David as David was only 6 mo. when Chris deployed to Iraq.
Chris enjoyed life and made the most of it, he did a lot in his 29 years, traveled to many places and learned much. He was a bit of a historian, studied a lot about the history of the world and all about American History. He knowledge of the Civil War was remarkable.
Chris had a great attitude about life, he could find humor in almost anything, he did not believe in carrying a grudge or being angry, when things didnât go well, he dealt with it the best he could. He will always be remembered for saying, âGet over itâ.
May God Bless You Always in All Ways
Chrisâs Mom
My name is Ryan Lilley. I am a second-year student at The University of Maine. This year was my first experience with the summit project, and it was an honor to remember Maine’s fallen heroes with such an amazing group of people. This year I got the privilege of carrying the stone of my uncle, Captain Christopher James Sullivan, with my mom. When Chris passed away, I was only four years old, leaving me with only very faint memories of him. My grandparents, James and Dorothy Sullivan, have always told me stories of what it was like to be with him when he was still here with us. I have heard many stories of how happy and charismatic he was, how he could make anybody’s life better just by being around them. Also, I don’t think I have ever seen any pictures of him without a big smile across his face. He indeed was a person that you would always want to have around you.
The Summit Project, this year in Acadia, was an eye-opening experience for me. I feel as though I understood the legacy he left with my mom, his family, and everybody he met. During the circle ceremony on the top of Cadillac Mountain, my mom said something that hit home for me. She said that she thinks about him every day and that what makes her sad isn’t necessarily the true sacrifice he made, but rather that me and my younger brother, along with so many others never really got to meet him and make memories with him. Although I may get sad that I wasn’t old enough to remember the time I had spent with him, I am extraordinarily proud of everything he did not only for our country, but also what he did for my grandparents and the rest of his family. It was an honor to carry you with me Uncle Chris. We are all so proud to call you our hero.
Ryan, we are so very proud of you and the fine young man you have become. Uncle Chris is watching over all of us, he was proud to be your uncle. He was happy when his sister became a mom, and while he didnât get to spend much time with you, you were in his thoughts. and prayers. It is so heartbreaking that Chris was taken before you had a chance to make memories with him, and that is the hardest part for all of us to know that you, James, Grace and especially David never got the chance to know and love such a truly good and loving person. We Love You Beyond Measure. G & G
I served with CPT Sullivan in Iraq, he was with HHC 2BDE(Blackjack). He was working in the TOC when I had the pleasure of taking to him almost every day. How he loved Triumph the rude talking dog!!! We would watch that DVD so many dam times and still laugh hard each time we saw it. It was a good source of releasing stress. What was even funnier were the days just sitting and waiting for the porta potties to be cleaned so that we could finally use a clean(well at least washed out) crapper and run to be the first to use it! Another memory of CPT Sullivan is standing by the coffee maker with about a week’s worth of coffee grounds still being used to make strong coffee to keep us awake…what would talk about by the coffee maker? Triumph the rude talking dog! You are sorely missed my brother, sorely missed. 16/17 years have gone by and I will never forget you sir. I chat with your sister Amy every now and then. You would be very proud of her today!
My name is Mike Donahue and on this Memorial Day, I remember Chris Sullivan. I knew Chris from the Army ROTC program at Worcester Polytechnical Institute. I joined late in my college career from Framingham State and Chris was one of the upperclassman that had the dubious task of showing me the ropes. Thankfully, through his efforts and many others, I achieved my goal and commissioned in 1999, serving for 8 years and during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I wasn’t close to Chris, but was deeply saddened when I learned he was killed in Iraq a year after I was there.
To Chris’s family and friends, he will never be forgotten. God Bless you all.
To the Summit project, I applaud your program. Although I live in NJ now, my parents still live in Massachusetts. On a future visit, I will definitely visit Maine and participate in any way I can.
Mike Donahue, Former Captain, US Army
This past Memorial Day weekend I had the honor of carrying the stone of my brother-in-law, Captain Christopher J. Sullivan. I remember when I first met Chris at UMASS âLowell, when I was dating his sister Amy. Amy and I were in graduate school for physical therapy and he was early into his engineering program. We hit it off pretty quickly because we both had the mindset that you need to be responsible but that life didnât always have to be taking so seriously. We also both enjoyed a few good beers on occasion đ
After Amy and I graduated, I looked forward to seeing Chris at family events and holidays when he was able to take a break from his military service. Chris had his son David a month after Amy and I welcomed our second son, James. We saw Chris that winter and I started looking forward to our families spending more time together, especially going to visit him if his Army service took him back to Germany or some other cool place. I never got that chance. Chris was killed far too early, like so many of the men and women that have served our country.
Jim and Dolly,
I know I can never take the place of Chris, nor can Ryan or James. But I hope that the love that Amy and I bring to our family helps further close the void of missing Chris. I hope that the sense of humor and laughter of the boys bring back fond memories of Chris. I hope the values Amy and I have tried to instill in Ryan and James make you proud of them and that you see Chrisâs spirit in them. I love you both and want you to know, I will continue to do what I can to keep Chrisâs memory alive.
Love,
Steve
Once again I had the honor of carrying the stone and story of my brother-in-law Captain Christopher Sullivan. Although the weather did not cooperate for our climb to the top of Cadillac, I was still able to share his story with my fellow team members on the shores of Echo Lake. I think Chris and the other fallen heroes were with us that day, because despite the foul weather, the rain held off and the sun broke through as we shared our stories. Chris is certainly missed, but I know he will not be forgotten. Thank you to all of the summit project participants for keeping the memories of our fallen heroes.
Chris,
Although I carry you with me in my heart every day, this past weekend at Baxter State Park, I had the honor to carry your memorial stone with me on our hike up the Owl.
Mom and Dad picked a nice heavy stone from Jasper Beach, so I was sure that you were with me (I know you are laughing at that). I can remember going there year after year and trying to find flat stones to skip and then taking a few select small ones with us as treasures. Lots of great memories from our many times spent at the farm or in the camper outside Grammy and Papa’s camp.
I can’t believe it took me 26 years to get back to Baxter. Although this is my fourth hike with TSP, this was my first time carrying your memorial stone. I am glad I got to carry your stone the first time I came back to Baxter. The last time I went was with you in 1996. We had a perfect day to hike up and over the Knife’s Edge back then. I had to go looking, but I found a picture I took of you that day and carried that with me as well. We had a clear view of the back of Baxter peak from the Owl. I got to share some of my favorite memories of my little brother with the group I was hiking with.
I miss you everyday and really miss that you are not here to share your sense of humor and love of fun with your nephews. They are truly missing out.
You made us all better and the world was a better place with you in it. You will never be forgotten.
Dear Jim, Dolly and Family,
What an honor it was to meet you both at TSP ANP and to carry your sonâs stone to the summit of Cadillac. It was so nice to be able to chat with you for a bit before we boarded the bus for the hike and your words stayed with me throughout the day as we worked towards the summit.
Your son was clearly an amazing person that did so much before he was taken way too soon. The places he went, the things he accomplished, the differences that he made- he clearly lived his life to the fullest and did so with compassion as well. Far too often, we get too busy to stop and make time to help those less fortunate than us but Chris clearly saw those around him and helped whenever he could. Dolly, you mentioned in a response to another Hiker on Chrisâ page that he did not believe in carrying a grudge or staying angry and I am so envious of that traitâŚ..being able to let go of anger and not let it consume you takes a truly strong and determined person. Chris was both of those things based on all I learned about him. You also mentioned he was fond of sayingâ Get over itâ. I used that for a mantra during our hike repeatedly. I had injured myself the week before the hike and was worried about slowing my team down en route to the summit. Multiple times during the hike when I was in pain I just kept repeating that mantra in my head over and over. It gave me the strength and perseverance to push through and make sure Chrisâ stone and story made it to the Summit of Cadillac.
I will never forget the experience of passing Chrisâ stone back to the both of you during the Closing Ceremony. It was a powerful experience that I will cherish.
Army Captain Christopher J Sullivan- you will never be forgotten.
Dear family and friends of Captain Christopher Sullivan,
First and foremost, I am sorry to family and friends for the loss of CPT. Sullivan! His commitment to joining the United States Military does not go unnoticed as not many would do so! Words fail to express my sorrow for your loss!
I have completed four TSP hikes at Acadia, however this was my first TSP at Baxter. For TSP Baxter, I had the honor and privilege to be assigned the stone and story of your loved one and friend!
I was on Team White and hiked the Rainbow Loop Trail. Even though I did not know CPT Sullivan personally, I know he was loved by many! My story shared of him was that from his biography and what I read online through research. This limits my connection to him, however, from what I researched, he seemed like an amazing person and soldier!
My one connection with CPT Sullivan that weighed heavy during my hike is that my husband was in Iraq at the same time. My husband was in Mosul with the Maine Army National Guard from 2004 to 2005 which was the same timeframe. They were both there in the same country serving in the military that many would not sign up for! His service to our country is not lost!
Thank you both James and Dorothy for being there to accept your sonâs memorial stone from me after the hike. And thank you Dorothy for sharing more of your sonâs story along with update regarding your grandson! I will carry his story with me and share with those that will listen so he is not forgotten!
Below is a fitting poem that I found:
A HEROâS WELCOME (For the ones we have lost)
Time to come home dear brother
your tour of duty through
youâve given as much as anyone
could be expected to do
Just a few steps further
the smoke will start to clear
others here will guide you
you have no need of fear
You have not failed your brothers
you clearly gave it all
and through your selfless actions
others will hear the call
So take your place of honor
among those who have gone before
and know you will be remembered
for now and evermore
By Robert Longley
Last Friday, June 23rd, 2023, I had the honor and pleasure of hiking up Mt. Agamenticus in York, Maine carrying the stone of Christopher J. Sullivan, U.S. Army Captain from Princeton, Massachusetts. Prior to, I was able to have a conversation with his mom, Dolly, who had graciously shared some stories about Chrisâ life that I was able to relay to the group at the summit. In speaking with his family, I hope that I was able to capture his essence so that his memory can live on. Hereâs some of what I shared:
Chris was a husband and father to a 6-month-old son David when he was deployed to Iraq in January 2004, and was 29 years old when he died on January 18th, 2005 in Baghdad from an explosive that detonated near his parked vehicle. He never got to spend a Fatherâs Day with his son, and even more so, he was only a few weeks away from returning home when he was killed. His son was only 18 months old. Being a new mom myself, this really hit home, and I struggled with accepting that some parents canât make it back to their children, despite all else. Knowing how Chris felt about his son, I thought he wouldâve felt similarly.
I expressed that a personâs life is not summed up by the way it ended, but by the way it was lived. It was this reason I sought to discover more about Chrisâ childhood, his family, and his values. Chris was the youngest of three children, but the only boy. I empathized with this, as this is the family dynamic I have as well, and it was all too easy (and emotional) to picture my younger brother in Chrisâ place as I spoke about his siblings. His sister Jennifer was 6 and his other sister Amy was 4 when he was born, and because of the age dynamic, Amy and Chris grew very close, as Jennifer was already attending school. His mother fondly remembers how the two girls would play with him as a baby, always placing him in this highchair that only seemed fit for a doll. She laughed when she told me how Chris was always too large for it, spilling out of it all the time. He was always big for age, not just in stature, but in character as well.
Chris had a great relationship with his sister growing up, their age gap allowing them to experience a year at college together and their free time hiking and skiing together. But he also had a good relationship with his dad as well. Some of his familyâs fondest memories are of his dad coming home on the weekends from his strenuous week-long work, washing the company truck, where Chris would join him from his tricycle. Him and his father would also fish together, and because his father worked hard throughout Chrisâ early life, these memories were treasured that much more. One of those core memories his father had of him is when he visited Chris in Fort Knox while he was in officerâs training school around 1998. Leading up to this point in Chrisâ life, his family would spend their summers in Maine, camping and visiting a family farm.
Growing up, Chris was a huge history buff. He would read military encyclopedias and go so far as to ask for them at Christmas. Dolly commented that he had a photographic memory, knowing these encyclopedias inside and out, which is why she thought he ended up doing so well in operations. At the young age of 14, he joined the Civil Air Patrol, was the Cadet Commander of the Worcester, MA Squadron his senior year of high school, and at UMass Lowell he served in ROTC majoring in mechanical engineering. It was no wonder to me that he tailored his education and career as such, learning that his father, grandfather and two uncles, both being his momâs brothers, had also served in the military. It was Chrisâ uncle, who was his mentor and godfather, who had the honor of giving Chris his first official salute. Dolly kindly emailed me some photos, and so I was able to pass some pictures around which included this moment. Speaking with his caring and devoted parents, I learned that Jim himself and Chrisâ two uncles performed all or part of their service in Vietnam, and his grandfather was even a prisoner of war during WW2.
For Chris, the main stints of his military career were in Kosovo and Germany. With Kosovo, his mother noted that they were unsure whether he was going into peacetimes or war, and that it was typically the case whenever he was deployed. In Kosovo particularly, it was a rainy day when their tank had slid off the road and into the corner of someoneâs home, destroying a significant portion of it. It didnât settle right with Chris that this had happened, and pulling his team together, he motivated them to personally rebuild the home. It was this kindness, consideration, and empathy that I was clearly able to see from the stories his family told.
Despite the constant uncertainty of his deployments, it was in Germany where he had met his future wife and mother to his son, David. Dolly said she could see his face so clearly when he had called her up to tell her that his wife was pregnant, and how elated he was. His wife and son reside in Germany, and his son is now 18 years old, attending technical university in Munich studying aerospace.
It was clear through these previous accounts the immovable heartache that lives with his family surrounding his passing, and I am likewise honored to have gotten a glimpse of this manâs personality, his values, and his life which he dedicated unwaveringly towards military service.
His sister Amy and I played phone tag for quite a bit, so we couldnât connect about Chris, but she graciously expressed her gratitude for the support of TSP and the hikers who keep Chrisâ story alive. I hear sheâs joining in the Heroâs Hundred and I wish her the best of luck on this adventure! I definitely saw this experience as a rewarding one and would happily participate again. It certainly helped that I got a great guy for my first hike!
Chris,
After 27 years, I finally got back to Katahdin, thanks to the Hero’s Hundred and TSP. The only other time I was there, was with you. You were my good luck charm after two failed attempts to make it to the summit.
You were my good luck charm again. I carried your memorial stone back to the summit and it was an amazing, sunny day. I miss you, but I know your spirit is with me, carrying me through the hard times, putting the wind beneath my feet when I run.
Much love to you always little brother.
My name is Dan Sullivan (no relation) this fall I had the privilege and honor of carrying the stone and learning the story of Cpt Christopher J Sullivan. I struggle to find the words to express myself when it comes to the emotions and thoughts that go along with doing these hikes and honoring these men and women for their service and sacrifice. I learned that Chris’s love of the military started long before he ever served. From a Young age he was a member of the civil air patrol, rotc doing whatever he could to be involved. That commitment and drive are only a few of the honorable qualities I learned Chris possessed. Love of family and friends were more of those fine qualities.
To Jim and Dorothy, who raised this fine young man and bestowed those qualities in him my deepest sympathy goes out to for enduring the pain of losing a child. Your sacrifice is not forgotten along with Chris’s memory it will be remembered every time we climb these mountains and speaks the names of these heroes.