My walk today was dedicated in honor of :
Navy PO2 Christoper E. Watts, Age 28 of Knoxville, TN.
KIA Apr. 24, 2004 Operation Iraqi Freedom
assigned to patrol coastal Firebolt, forward deployed to Manama, Bahrain, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
PO2 Watts died in a suicide terror attack near an oil terminal in the Persian Gulf near Basra, Iraq.
Christopher Eugene Watts grew up in Jefferson County and in Neon, Ky., where he graduated high school. His mother remembers him as a quiet boy who spent most of his time outdoors, fishing or filling notebooks with drawings and stories. Watts joined the Navy in 1995 at age 18. Rainwater believes he saw himself as part of a family tradition. “His father and grandfather had both been in the Navy,” she said. “He loved the Navy. He loved wearing his uniform. He thought he was doing what God wanted him to do.”
Watts had been in Iraq about three months aboard the USS Firebolt patrol ship when a boat approached the oil terminal that the ship was guarding April 24, 2004. The operator wouldn’t turn back, despite warnings from the ship. Watts went out with a boarding team to inspect the boat. As they drew near, it exploded. Jordanian extremists with ties to the Al-Qaida terrorist group later claimed responsibility.
Christopher Eugene Watts is buried at Cedar Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Maryville, Tennessee.
We had a great 10.14 Mile walk. We started off by walking be the beautiful lake Holiday Hills and then we walked by Boats & Harbors down town and stopped by the War Memorial Park and read some of the names on the memorials. We then headed down 127 North. I want to thank Grinder House Coffee Shop, Jack’s Barber Shop, and the Gardens for flying our beautiful colors. I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted in helping me honor this hero. It was amazing. We had 120 Honks. Thank You.
Navy PO2 Christoper E. Watts will not be forgotten !
