"Always lead from the front" is a quote often connected to soldiers, and was repeatedly used by Rhode Island National Guard Staff Sgt. Christopher Potts.

"It was always his saying," said Ralph Croft, friend and president of the Aquidneck Island Striper Team. "If you knew him, you would understand the true meaning of the quote."

After 14 years of military service, Sgt. Potts was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment and deployed to Iraq.

On Oct. 3, 2004, Sgt. Potts and his team were conducting a regular combat patrol in Taji, Iraq, when insurgents attacked the traffic control post. In an attempt to contain the insurgents and protect his team, he ordered his men to stay back and he was fatally wounded.

He died on his 38^th birthday.

"He was a hero," said Croft.

Close friend, Capt. B.J. Silvia, had met Sgt. Potts playing softball, and the two worked together at New England Boat Works.

"Everyone knew I was a fisherman, so Chris would come in to work and ask me about fishing all the time," said Capt. Silvia, who introduced Sgt. Potts to the Aquidneck Island Striper Team. "He always said that he never caught much, but he really liked it. Not many people really knew that about him."

After Sgt. Potts' death in 2004, Capt. Silvia brainstormed with the striper team's vice president, Capt. Michael Littlefield, to find a way to help support Sgt. Potts' wife, Terri, and two sons, Christopher Jr. and Jackson.

"Christopher Jr. did everything with his dad," said Capt. Silvia. "His death really hit him hard."

Jackson, who was a young child when his father died, did not know his father very well, but is an active participant in the tournament and is grateful that he can fish in his father's honor.

"He went nuts the first year," said Capt. Silvia. "I always say we are going to have to keep putting this tournament on 'till he turns 18 because he loves fishing now."

Christopher Jr. and Jackson participate in the tournament every year, and although wife Terri Potts does not share the love of fishing with her sons, she assists by organizing the event.

"What Terri really cares about is keeping Chris' memory alive," said Capt. Silvia. "It's not about the money to her."

The tournament will kick off on Friday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. and will be divided into four divisions: boat, shore, kayak and women's.

Cash and gift prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners in striper, blue and black fish categories in each division.

Raffle prize donations (rods, reels, gift certificates, etc.) are also greatly appreciated, and can be dropped off at Riverside Marine.

"We will take anything we can get from anyone that wants to help in any way, fashion or form. It doesn't necessarily have to be monetary," said Croft. "Our team is really about community; for people that help us, we try to help them."

In previous years, the event has raised more than $20,000, but this year the bar is set a little lower.

"Fishing has been really bad in the area this year," said Croft. "And with the poor economy, we are hoping to raise around $5,000."

Can't fish but want to participate? The awards and dinner will be held at the Portuguese American Club on Sept. 11 from 1 to 6 p.m.

Tickets (fishing entry fee) are $25 and include a T-shirt, food, door prize raffle entry and live music by Blurred Vision.

Tickets can be purchased at Riverside Marine, 211 Riverside Drive, Tiverton; Sam's Bait and Tackle, 936 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown; Lucky Bait and Tackle, 289 Market St., Warren; and online at the Aquidneck Island Striper Team Web site by clicking here.  

"Even if people don't fish, we want people to buy a ticket and come to the party to celebrate a great individual," said Croft.