It is said that the full measure of a man is not found in the man himself but rather in the way he inspires accomplishments in the people around him. I can’t imagine someone epitomizing that more than Sgt. 1st Class Greg L. Sutton.
Follow me across the fold to learn what an amazing man he was.
The Defense Department has announced the death of Sgt. 1st Class Greg L. Sutton:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. 1st Class Greg L. Sutton, 38, of Spring Lake, N.C., died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 212th Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
This was Sgt. 1st Class Sutton's second tour in Iraq, deploying most recently in January. He was based at Fort Sill, Okla., and had served in the Army for nearly 15 years. He married his wife Joanne in 2005 and was father to two young children – ages 2 and 3.
Now to the legacy and the huge void left by Sgt. 1st Class Sutton’s death, especially in the life of his nephew Shaimal. From the Daily Reflector:
Sutton's nephew talked about the lessons he learned from his uncle, saying they are even more important for him to heed.
"It's time for me to step up; he leaves a legacy," said Shaimal Sutton, 20, of Greenville.
Soldier-like qualities - discipline and hard work - have rubbed off on him, the younger Sutton said.
"You have to earn what you get," he recalled his uncle saying. "Put your education first."
Please go here to see a photo of Sgt. 1st Class Sutton and watch a video of an interview with his sister, Evette Connor.
"He loved the army. He was a soldier for life." From WNCT in North Carolina:
Connor talked with her brother, SFC. Greg Sutton, just two days before he was killed.
Connor says, "we e-mailed each other on Monday and he told me to keep my head up."
She is from a military family. But she didn't want her brother to go to Iraq a second time, but he did. A choice she says she'll always be proud of.
Connor says, "he loved the army, he was a soldier for life."
His aunt, Carolyn Ward, also wishes her nephew hadn't had to go back to Iraq. Her thoughts turn to the two young children who will have to grow up not knowing their father.
Ward says, "all I could think about is what kind of life are they going to have now."
But Sutton will never fulfill his dreams for his family. Connor says, "to live the life in the army he wanted to retire with his kids and his wife and his main dream was to buy his mama a home [and] to see his kids go to college."
Please take a moment to honor the memory of a most amazing and loved man, Sgt. 1st Class Greg L. Sutton, as well as too many others, who have passed through this world much too quickly.
You can do that by viewing the stories and remembrances of these heroes at sites such as Iraq Veterans Memorial, Honor the Fall and Spread the Word: Iraq-Nam
The Department of Defense has confirmed 3,502 deaths and the announcement of 10 more deaths is expected, pending notification of the next of kin, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count.
To support our military service members and veterans, please see AnySoldier.com and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
About the IGTNT series:
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, silvercedes, MsWings, greenies, American Daughter, blue jersey mom, chacounne, Worried Dem, Just the Facts, Wee Mama, BeninSC and and me, greenies.
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