Roll Call Tribute

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark E. Stratton ’91 died May 26 in Afghanistan of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC and was serving as the commander of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Stratton graduated from Foley High School in Foley, Ala, and from Texas A&M University in December 1991 with a degree in Political Science. While at Texas A&M, he was a member of Squadron 1 in the Corps of Cadets.

Remembered by his friends as a man of unquestionable character and loyalty, Stratton was excited about the initiative he was leading in Afghanistan. In an email to a friend he described the work of building roads, schools, canals and clinics as the best job of his Air Force career.

Lt. Col. Gil Delgado ’91 was Stratton’s roommate at Texas A&M, as well as a close friend and Air Force colleague. He described his friend as someone who loved God, his family, his friends and his country fervently.

“Mark gave his life helping the Afghan people,” Delgado said. “In life, as in death, Mark’s selflessness will always stand out to me as a testimony to who he was.” 

Just a few weeks prior to his death, Stratton made a special effort to share his Aggie Spirit and observe Aggie Muster.   In an email to Texas Aggie magazine he indicated that although he was the only Aggie within 100 miles of his forward operating base, he convinced the Panjshir Provincial Governor and his security detail to join him atop a nearby mountain to mark the occasion. 
 
Stratton is survived by his wife Jennifer and their three children, along with his mother, stepfather and brother.

Lt. Col. Stratton will be remembered in a memorial service at 3pm, June 7 at Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Stafford, Va, with visitation from 4pm - 6pm June 6 at Covenant Funeral Service, also in Stafford.  He will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery June 9, 2009 at 11:00am.  Those wishing to pay their respects are asked to arrive by 10:30am.  Please visit the Arlington National Cemetery website, http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ for service location. 

Please see the links below for media articles on Lt. Col. Stratton.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123152562

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6443540.html

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/AirForceOfficerFromFoleyKilled

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1243415769243360.xml&coll=3

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/mobile_news/foley_graduate_killed_in_iraq