Service recalls Wheaton College 'free spirit'

Dozens of Wheaton College students and ROTC cadets gathered Wednesday morning to mourn last week's death of Capt. Christian Skoglund.

Skoglund, a 2000 graduate of the college, was among at least five service people killed Nov. 8 when a Army helicopter crashed in Italy.

A photo of Skoglund rested atop an empty helmet, boots, rifle and dog tag display during Wednesday's service at Wheaton College's Todd Beamer Memorial Student Center.

Retired Lt. Col. James Carey taught military science from 1996 to 2000 and commissioned Skoglund into the Army after graduation.

A teary-eyed Carey remembered Skoglund as "a free spirit."

"I knew him, and I knew him well because we both arrived on campus together in 1996," Carey said. "It was an interesting experience to watch Christian grow."

Carey described the 31-year-old helicopter pilot as creative and athletic.

"He was unconventional," he said. "He was refreshing and, at times, frustrating."

Evan Ellsworth, a Wheaton college senior who is the cadet battalion commander in the ROTC program, didn't know Christian Skoglund.

But he said he is a friend of Skoglund's younger brother, Lars, a sophomore in the ROTC program.

Ellsworth said Christian Skoglund's death and the memorial service brought the realities of war and the military much closer to home.

"I've never met Capt. Skoglund, but seeing his helmet and boots up there brings all those feelings home," Ellsworth said. "The battalion has lost a brother and I've lost a member of my family, my fraternity."

As sobering as the ceremony was, Lt. Col. Benjamin White shared with the ROTC cadets a harsh reality.

"For those you gathered here, this will more than likely not be the last time you will probably see one of these ceremonies," White reminded the cadets.

"We thought it was important for you all to see and participate in an event like this," White added. "Please use this, to some degree, as an opportunity to honor Christian but also as a step in your professional development."

The emotional ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps.