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Panjshir holds ‘Aggie Muster’ for fallen commander

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jason Smith
  • Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir Public Affairs
PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan --  Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir members participated in the solemn Aggie Muster at Forward Operating Base Lion, Afghanistan, April 21 in honor of deceased Texas A&M Aggies, but specifically the FOB's former commander.

"Lt. Col. Mark Stratton," called out 1st Sgt. Dana Williams, PRT Panjshir first sergeant. "Present," returned all members of the formation on behalf of the deceased commander.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Stratton, a 1991 Texas A&M graduate, along with U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Blue Rowe, Senior Airman Ashton Goodman and Afghan Judge Abdul Samad were killed on May 26, 2009, in Afghanistan when a suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device near their vehicle.

The Aggie Muster is an annual event held around the world in remembrance of Aggies who died in the year past, said Elizabeth Smithwick, U.S. Agency for International Development field officer with PRT Panjshir. This is the first muster since Stratton passed away, and it was very appropriate for the PRT to hold the muster at FOB Lion.

"The unofficial muster started in 1883," said Smithwick, a 1982 graduate. "It officially began April 21, 1922, at the Battle of Corregidor. (Brig. Gen George Moore), a Texas A&M graduate, held a muster for the 25 Aggies under his command. Today, there are more than 300 held around the world."

Smithwick said all names of Aggies who died during the past year, for any reason, are part of the annual roll call. However, she pointed out that the school is no stranger to losing students in war.

"Texas A&M is second only to West Point in the number of sons and daughters killed in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Smithwick.

Capt. Phillip Baker, PRT Panjshir civil engineer and Class of 2000 graduate, participated by reading the poem "Silver Taps at A&M."

"I have been to muster since 2001," said Baker. "It was great to see even those who weren't Aggies come together to honor a fellow Aggie. It really helped us uphold the tradition."
Jeremy Lewis, USAID field officer with PRT Panjshir, spoke to the group about his time at the FOB with Stratton. Lewis told a story about Stratton being a patient leader and said he was proud to be a part of the ceremony.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Curtis Velasquez, PRT Panjshir commander, concluded the ceremony by thanking the PRT for taking part in the event. The ceremony was recorded on video and will be forwarded to Stratton's surviving family.