Foley graduate killed in Afghanistan

FOLEY, Ala. - He fought for our country. “We were lucky to have him, the country was lucky to have him. And now we don’t have him, the country doesn’t have him.”

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Stratton was a commander in the U.S. Air Force. Before being deployed to Afghanistan-he worked at the Pentagon. He was married with three children ages seven, four, and two.

And family members say on Memorial Day, a suicide bomber brought his life to an end. "A family member that is faraway blew up in a truck, that's pretty bad."

Stratton left for Afghanistan in November 2008. Before leaving, Stratton took a picture with his mom. It would be the last time his family would see him alive.

"The last email he sent to my mom, he said 'this is the best job he's ever done, helping people, rebuilding roads, schools'; he loved it," said brother Frankie Little.

Stratton graduated from Foley High School. That's where he got his first taste of the military. He participated in the JROTC program.

His family has a photo that shows Stratton during his time at Texas A & M. "There is not many good people in this world like him and I can't say enough good things about him."

And now a community remembers a son, brother, husband, and father. "He was going to be home in 80 days and he's coming home not the way we had planned."

Stratton would have turned 40-years-old in July. Family members say Stratton's body will be flown back to the U.s. on Wednesday. He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.