Raible, Christopher Keith
Male
Verified Lt. Col. Christopher Keith Raible, 40, of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, was a U.S. Marine Corps officer with Marine Attack Squadron 211. He was killed in a Taliban attack on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, on September 15, 2012.
Their Story
Christopher Keith Raible was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps. He served as the commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211), known as the 'Wake Island Avengers,' a unit operating AV-8B Harrier jets. Raible, a native of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, was a career Marine and Naval Academy graduate who had deployed multiple times, including to the Philippines and the Horn of Africa.
On the night of September 14-15, 2012, a group of 15 Taliban insurgents, wearing U.S. Army uniforms, breached the perimeter fence of the heavily fortified Camp Bastion in Helmand Province. The attackers, armed with automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, and explosives, targeted aircraft on the flight line. Lt. Col. Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell were killed while leading a counterattack against the infiltrators. The assault resulted in the destruction of six AV-8B Harrier jets and significant damage to two others, representing one of the most destructive single attacks on allied aircraft since the Vietnam War.
The attack occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led international military effort in Afghanistan that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. The mission evolved from counter-terrorism to counter-insurgency and training of Afghan security forces. Camp Bastion was a major British-run airfield and logistics hub adjacent to Camp Leatherneck, the main U.S. Marine Corps base in Helmand.
Following the attack, the Marine Corps posthumously awarded Lt. Col. Raible the Bronze Star with combat 'V' for valor. According to the citation, he organized and led an immediate response force under direct fire. An investigation into the security breach at Camp Bastion led to reprimands for several U.S. and British officers. Raible was survived by his wife and six children.
Lt. Col. Raible is memorialized by his squadron and community. The 'Raible Award' was established at his alma mater, Huntingdon Area High School, to honor a senior who exemplifies leadership and service. His death highlighted the persistent threat of direct attacks on major coalition bases late in the Afghanistan conflict.
Explore Further
Lt. Col. Raible was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
