Lt. Colonel Mark E. Stratton
Houston, TX-Air Force 7/1/1969-5/26/2009 Col. Stratton gave his life helping the Afghan people to a life lived in freedom. He was assigned to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and served as the commander of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. On May 26, 2009, Mark died near Bagram Airfield of wounds that he sustained from an improvised explosive device. Mark had strong Texas ties. He graduated from Texas A&M in December of 1991. He has numerous Air Force commendations, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He is remembered by friends as a man of unquestionable character and loyalty. He was a patriotic individual who exemplified the spirit of the American airman. Through his heroic work in Afghanistan, Mark lived a life helping other people. His time was spent building roads and clinics, schools and canals for the Afghan people. He was an ambassador for the American spirit. When he was killed the villagers in Afghanistan had a memorial service in his honor. Just a few weeks prior to his death, Mark made a special effort to share his Texas Aggie spirit with the Afghan friends that he had met. On April 21st, Aggies observe what is called Aggie Muster where all Aggies gather around the world to honor Aggies who have died the previous year. Even though Mark was the only Aggie within 100 miles of his forward operating base, he convinced the Panjshir Provincial Governor to join him atop a nearby mountain to observe this very special occasion. One Aggie Air Force colonel and Afghan villagers paid tribute to Americans who died the previous year. Mark was a proud Texas Aggie. There is no doubt the people of Afghanistan will remember the man from America, the Air Force colonel who built their schools, their water wells, and their villages. And maybe those villagers will return once more to that mountaintop and pay tribute to this American hero, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Stratton.