Christopher Kendrick's Family

On July 4th, 2022, Air Force Veteran and Wildland Firefighter Christopher Kendrick passed away in a fatal car accident. Christopher is survived by his wife Gabrielle and their 2-month-old son Cecil. Christopher was only 29 years old and gone too soon. He was surrounded by a fraternity of Veterans and Wildland Firefighters who loved him like family with the US Forest Service’s Umatilla Veteran Crew. Christopher was on his way to watch the annual fireworks show in Ukiah, OR for Independence Day when the vehicle he was a passenger in was involved in an accident.

Christopher Kendrick had just joined the Umatilla Veteran Crew, an all Veteran Type 2-Initial Attack Handcrew on the Umatilla National Forest in Northeastern Oregon.

After graduating high school, Christopher enlisted with the US Air Force as a Military Policeman and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. Christopher served for seven years before being medically retired in 2020. Christopher served his country honorably with two combat deployments to Afghanistan. Unfortunately, Christopher’s second deployment to Afghanistan resulted in him contracting an illness that caused him to lose several feet of his small intestine, half of his pancreas, his gall bladder, and his bile duct. This medical complication resulted in him being medically discharged from the US Air Force as a disabled veteran.

However, Christopher didn’t let his disability get in the way of continuing to serve; he always said to other members of the Vet Crew, “I will die before I quit.”

After he was discharged from the military, Christopher was determined to continue serving his country for a second time. So, Christopher worked hard to get back into shape, readying himself for the arduous work required to be a wildland firefighter. In 2021, Christopher successfully started his fire career with the Boise BLM Engines.

This year in 2022, Christopher joined the Umatilla Veteran Crew and quickly fit in with a like-minded group of veterans continuing to serve the public lands back home after serving overseas. Christopher pushed himself physically to get better before his illness in Afghanistan. Two weeks ago, Christopher completed the Vet Crew’s annual 12-mile PT Hike to the top of Tower Mountain with no issue, as a testament to his resilience. On July 1st, Christopher completed the Vet Crew’s annual “Freedom Run,” a 17.76-mile run that happened to be on the same road he would pass away on just three days later.

Christopher impressed the crew immensely with his unrelenting resolve to overcome such adversity in life at such a young age. Christopher accomplished much in his recovery and always inspired the Crew’s spirit and ambition to do better.

Christopher leaves a legacy to the Umatilla Veteran Crew we will not soon forget. We will always remember his endearing sense of determination, undying loyalty, sheer willpower, and meritorious service to his country as a beacon of light for us all to endeavor.