Soldier from Somerton
killed in combat in Iraq

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Specialist Adam James Chitjian, 39, who grew up in Somerton and attended Baldi Middle School, died in Iraq last week. The 1987 George Washington High School graduate was killed on Oct. 25 about 50 miles north of Baghdad in Balad, Iraq, when he came under small arms fire during combat operations.
He is survived by his wife Shirley, whom he married last summer after his first tour of duty in Iraq; his father, Martin; a brother, Martin; and sister, Kara Spatola.
Chitjian joined the military in August 2003 as a combat engineer. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division based out of Ft. Hood, Texas. He deployed for his second tour of duty in October 2006.
The fallen soldier’s awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge. He was also posthumously promoted from private first class to specialist.
"Chit will always be remembered as the soldier that did instead of said," wrote Phillip Hall of Salem, Virginia, in an online memoriam guest book. "I am proud to have served with him in Iraq. He was a great friend and a great soldier."
Neighbors Ann and Mickey Litt remembered him as a strong and handsome young man.
"We’ve been in our house for thirty years, known him since he was nine years old. He was a great kid. My two older children were about the same age. They hung out together," Ann Litt said by telephone from her Somerton home.
Chitjian’s father moved away from the family home a few years ago, according to Litt. Her family heard about Chitjian’s death on the news.
"We were quite upset hearing the news about Adam. It was quite a shock. We didn’t know he was there. He was older than most of the young soldiers," she said.
On Tuesday, Litt was trying to learn details of the funeral arrangements, since Chitjian’s widow is in Texas.
"They married last summer after his first tour. He signed up to go again. He’s a real hero to do that," Litt said. ••
To leave a remembrance for the Chitjian family, visit http://legacy.com/gb/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonID=96843764
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com