Hundreds pay respects to fallen soldier U.S. Army color guards carry the casket of Army Maj. Christopher Splinter at St. Mary's Chatholic Church in Platteville, Friday. (AP Photo/Andy Manis) By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press Writer PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (AP) - Hundreds of people jammed a church here Friday for the funeral of a soldier killed in Iraq on Christmas Eve, saying goodbye one last time to a career military man who loved the Green Bay Packers and hoped to rebuild the shattered Middle Eastern country. U.S. Army Maj. Christopher Splinter, 43, became the ninth soldier from Wisconsin to die in the Iraqi war. Splinter was killed along with two other soldiers when their vehicle struck a homemade bomb outside Samarra. The men were assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, based in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Their deaths were the first for the battalion. Splinter was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart at the end of the funeral. "Our warrior. Our blessed warrior," Lt. Col. Bryan Watson said, concluding a eulogy. Splinter grew up in Platteville with four brothers and seven sisters. His Army career took him around the world. He graduated in 1979 from Platteville High School, where he was an all-conference athlete in football and track. He joined the ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1986, graduating in 1990 with a business degree. He then went on active duty as an engineer. He did stints in Korea, Kansas and Iowa. He married his high school sweetheart, Penny Barton, in 1985. They lived near Fort Leonard Wood with their 13-year-old son, Mitchell, and 10-year-old daughter, Rachel. He shipped out to Iraq in July. The family expected him back this summer. Splinter's closed casket stood before the alter at St. Mary's Catholic Church, draped with an American flag. A photo of Splinter in desert camouflage, helmet and flak jacket stood beside it. His dress uniform jacket hung behind the pulpit. The church basement was decorated with stands of family photos, including one of a very-young-looking Splinter in his Platteville High Hillmen football uniform and another of him leaping over a hurdle. The church fell nearly silent as a burial detail from Fort Leonard Wood marched in and carefully folded the flag on the casket. Their boots on the floor were the only sound. Penny, Mitchell and Rachel Splinter sat in the first pew next to Splinter's parents, Virgil and Barbara. Other family members sat behind them. "These people will be all right, because they love each other," the Rev. Charles Schluter said during the homily. Watson, who commanded Splinter at Fort Riley, Kansas, described him as a compassionate warrior who loved his family, his men and the Packers. He truly wanted to help the Iraqi people, Watson said. Splinter led raids and patrols and seized "countless" weapons in Iraq, Watson said. He befriended an Iraqi mother and her three children and made sure their house was rebuilt. "His actions saved lives," he said. His voice booming, Watson called Splinter a master motivator. Soldiers were attracted to his leadership, because he never forgot the ones who did the dirty work, Watson said. One night, Watson found Splinter working late with his ever-present cup of coffee. Splinter spoke then about his son's performance in football, basketball and baseball, Watson said. "He beamed with pride," Watson said. "And then he would talk about his little Rachel and how she melted his heart." Fog and mist closed in on Calvary Cemetery as Splinter was laid to rest. A bugler sounded "Taps." The burial detail fired a salute. Mitchell and Rachel Splinter sat hunched against the chill. Their mother sobbed as a soldier handed her the flag from their father's coffin. The mist gave way to a cold hard rain as the gathering broke up. Watson said Splinter's family lived only a mile or so from his in Missouri. He said they would take care of them. "Some guys take tough jobs like this for a chance at a promotion," he said. "Chris took it for his country."