Fallen Marine had family in Vegas

Monday, April 26, 2004 | 9:38 a.m.

Marine Cpl. Christopher Gibson, 23, who was killed April 17, had family in Las Vegas.

Gibson was one of five Marines ambushed by insurgents while escorting a convoy near the Syrian border in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

In addition to his wife, Jessica, their two children, 3-year-old Ivy and 1-year-old Luke, born while his father was overseas on his first tour of duty, Gibson left behind his grandparents, Larry and Debbie Bowen of Henderson, and Dave and Lee Fowers of Las Vegas.

Gibson is also survived by his father, Jeff Gibson of China and his great-grandparents, Bud and Lea Pfotenhauer of Kingman, Ariz.

On Tuesday his wife of four years will attend a ceremony at the Marine Corps Base in Twentynine Palms in remembrance of her husband and to receive his Purple Heart.

A lifelong resident of Simi Valley, Calif., Gibson graduated from Simi Valley High School in 1999, then joined the Marines.

Gibson spent the Christmas holidays with his family before shipping out in January with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based in Twentynine Palms, Calif. It was his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Funeral services with full military honors are scheduled for Saturday in Simi Valley.