On August 2, 2017, Army Specialist Chris Harris was murdered by an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Afghanistan. The 25-year-old North Carolina native was a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg. Sergeant Jonathon Hunter, 23, of Columbus, Indiana, died in the blast as well.
Spc. Chris Harris died just weeks after learning that he and his wife were expecting their first child.
Britt Harris, Chris’ widow, quickly discovered she was expecting a girl. On March 17, 2018, Christian Michelle Harris was born. Britt wanted to have newborn photos taken of her daughter when she was two months old, but they wouldn’t be alone. In the most heartbreakingly beautiful images, members of Chris Harris’ 82nd Airborne Division stepped in for their fallen brother.
Two-month-old Christian Harris is seen in the photos being held, hugged, and adored by the soldiers who served with her father. While the soldiers were dressed in their dress uniforms, young Christian was wearing a shirt with the words “My Daddy’s my hero” and his name on it.
“It’s refreshing to see those blue eyes again,” Britt said in an interview, noting that Christian looks just like her dad.
“He was an unforgettable personality,” Britt said to ABC News of Chris. “Being in the Army was his second biggest goal in life. Number one was being a dad.”
Pinehurst Photography in North Carolina took the incredible and emotive images, with photographers and makeup artists Kendra Lee and Erin Brady.
“While this story has been emotional for us since the beginning, we promised Britt that we would assist her in telling the world about her hero.” We took that vow seriously and promptly wiped away any tears so we could do the best job we could to commemorate this great family,” Pinehurst Photography said. “Because we live in a military community, we frequently photograph military funerals.” We never charge for them and never use them for advertising. They are a means for non-service members like us to give back to our community.”
One of the most moving images from the session shows Christian being held in the hands of soldiers who create a complete circle around her. The caption was a message from Mimi Novic, which was posted on Facebook: “Sometimes all we need to soothe our soul and ease our burdens is the loving hand of a friend gently touching our heart and lifting us towards love.”
Britt revealed the baby’s gender to Chris’ Army unit in October 2017. While they were still in Afghanistan, Britt gave them party canisters to open, revealing either blue or pink confetti for a boy or pink confetti for a girl. When the troops see Chris’ child is a girl, they burst out laughing on the video.
“Knowing that we could come home to a baby girl, that was awesome,” said Sgt. Nathan Arthur Bagley to WTVD. “When everyone got home, it was the day she was born, so it was ten times better.”
“Everyone I’ve met, both before and after Chris died, if they’re in the military, they’ve treated me like actual family, or royalty, actually,” Britt Harris said.
Kendra Lee of Pinehurst Photography set up a crowdfunding campaign to assist Britt with the costs of rearing Christian, and the local community and the general public generously donated to the Gold Star family after hearing their tale.
Spc. Chris Harris’ brothers-in-arms are continuing to support and care for him as any brother would, and they will be there in the years to come to show young Christian Harris what sort of hero her father was.