Christopher Gailey, 26, of Ochelata and Sarina Butcher, 19, of Checotah were killed when a vehicle they were in hit an IED. They were assigned to the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard in Tulsa.
"It's a pretty tight-knit community, and when one family loses one, we all lose one," says Gailey family friend, Bret Chew.
"Chris was here his junior and senior year, and he always had a smile on his face," says Caney Valley High Principal, Debra Keil.
“The Oklahoma National Guard family is deeply saddened by the loss of these two outstanding Citizen-Soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Myles L. Deering, the adjutant general for Oklahoma. “Their commitment and willingness to serve our nation during a time of war is indicative of their tremendous character and courage. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and those that continue to serve our country in Afghanistan.” Spc. Gailey enlisted in the National Guard in June 2004 and subsequently graduated from Caney Valley High School in Ramona, Okla., in May 2005. He had previously deployed to Iraq in 2007-08 and was a motor vehicle operator