In Memory of HM3 Chad Julius Contranchis USN
November 5, 1979 – September 20, 2015
Navy Corpsman /
Iraq 2003 Afghanistan 2004
In school Chad loved sports – he played football, baseball, and ran track. He knew no strangers.
Later, Chad worked for Jefferson Fiberglass and later joined the United States Navy. He served in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars as a Medical Corpsman. He took his military job very seriously. He loved taking care of others and was proud of his work. He was “Doc”, a Hospital Corpsman on the front lines in Iraq. He took an oath to help everyone, even the injured Iraqis. He served on the USS Saipan with the 2nd Battalion – 8th Marine Regiment. He later served in Afghanistan. He was stationed in Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. After his two tours he went to Virginia Tech and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Health and Science. Afterwards he served in Maine, and there he started to experience PTSD. He tried, not letting it bother him. He met Sherry, the mother of his twins, Chad Jr. and Gabrielle. He passed away September 20, 2015.
Those left behind to cherish his memory include his children, Chad Julius Contranchis Jr. and Gabrielle Judy Contranchis; his mother, Brenda Contranchis and her companion Huey Bethancourt; grandmother, Shirley Autin Contranchis; his father of 27 years, Kevin Barrios; grandmother June Barrios along with many other loving family members and friends.
Chad was a loving father, son, grandson and friend and will be sadly missed.
“My thoughts and heartfelt condolences to the family and children of Doc Contranchis, with whom I served in Iraq. He was a man not only of good honor but also of good humor, and we are all poorer for his loss. Rest peacefully, Doc. -Chef”
“I served with Chad and I say this, He will be missed. All the guys from the Marines that knew him will hold his memory in a special place for all eternity. All I remember was a young man that came to the Battalion and in a matter of days we were on a ship heading for Iraq. He was always wanting to help and always there volunteering for the extra jobs. He had a great sense of humor and will be missed. I can’t imagine how you feel and I’m sorry for your loss. HM2 Alan”
Final Rest: Saint Pius X Church, Crown Point, Louisiana
