Army Sgt. 1st Class Greg L. Sutton

Died June 6, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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38, of Spring Lake, N.C.; assigned to the 212th Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died June 6 in Baghdad, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

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Fort Riley soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

FORT RILEY, Kan. — A Fort Riley soldier was killed in Iraq when the vehicle he was in was struck by an improvised explosive device, the military announced June 9.

Sgt. 1st Class Greg L. Sutton, 38, of Spring Lake, N.C., was killed June 6 in Baghdad, Fort Riley said.

Sutton was a fire support specialist assigned to the 212th Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

He joined the Army in February 1991. This was his first deployment to Iraq, Fort Riley said.

To date, 104 Fort Riley soldiers have been killed in Iraq.

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Soldier with ties to Fort Sill dies

The Associated Press

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) — A soldier who spent three years at Fort Sill was killed in Iraq when the vehicle he was in was struck by an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense reported.

Sgt. 1st Class Greg Sutton, 38, died last week in Baghdad while serving with the 212th Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division based at Fort Riley, Kan.

Sutton, who is originally from Spring Lake, N.C., joined the Army in 1991, a few years after graduating from high school. Sutton’s wife and two children still live on post at Fort Sill.

While at Fort Sill, Sutton was a member of the 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery. Sutton also served as a causality assistance officer from November 2005 through October 2006, helping families of slain soldiers, said Jon Long, public affairs officer at Fort Sill.

Funeral services for Sutton will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Frontier Chapel on Fort Sill. Sutton, whose wife and two young children still live in Lawton, will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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Mourners gather for Fort Sill soldier’s funeral

The Associated Press

FORT SILL, Okla. — Masons clad in black suits and white aprons lined the entrance to a post chapel during funeral services for a Fort Sill soldier killed in Iraq.

Services were held June 15 for Sgt. 1st Class Greg Lamonte Sutton, who died June 6 after the vehicle in which he was riding struck an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq.

Originally from Spring Lake, N.C., Sutton, 38, was serving in Iraq with the 212th Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kan. His wife and two children still live on post at Fort Sill.

While at Fort Sill, Sutton was a member of the 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery. Sutton also served as a causality assistance officer from November 2005 through October 2006, helping families of slain soldiers, said Jon Long, public affairs officer at Fort Sill.

Sutton volunteered to go to Iraq so that a friend who worked in the same office could retire.

“It was a calling. He said it was something he had to do. And he would do it again. He knew the risks. Everybody knows this: He would do it again,” said family friend Gabby Galloway.

During Friday’s service, a video tribute flashed pictures of Sutton, prompting cries of “Daddy!” from his young children seated in the front pew.

Veterans and active-duty soldiers stood with members of the Masons from Mistletoe Lodge No. 31 as an honor guard marched Sutton’s flag-draped coffin into the chapel and carried it out again after the service.

Maj. Kenneth Hurst, chaplain of 214th Fires Brigade, spoke of Sutton’s life, service and sacrifice to a gathering of his family, fellow Masons, friends and the soldiers with whom he served.

“God has blessed us with the gift of memory,” Hurst said. “Imagine if there were no memories. But he has given us the gift to remember great days, and Greg’s service to God and country, and we give God thanks today,” Hurst said.

Burial with military honors will be at 2 p.m. June 20 at Arlington National Cemetery, Va.

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Family, friends remember soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

Army Sgt. 1st Class Greg L. Sutton broke horrible news to several families. As a casuality assistance officer at Fort Sill, Okla., from November 2005 through October 2006, he helped families of slain soldiers.

“Greg had helped countless families, there’s no way to figure out how many,” said Stefan Ohlenmacher, casualty mortuary officer.

“He had compassion and professionalism, and the ability to deal with people and families.”

Sutton, 38, of Spring Lake, N.C., died June 6 from an explosive in Baghdad. He was a 1987 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Riley, Kan.

Sutton believed in authority and didn’t tolerate foolishness.

His sister, Evette Connor, said his presence commanded respect. “I would still listen to him even as old as I am,” she said.

Sutton volunteered to go to Iraq so that a friend who worked in the same office could retire. “It was a calling. He said it was something he had to do. And he would do it again. He knew the risks. Everybody knows this: He would do it again,” said family friend Gabby Galloway.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne daughter Cailee, 3 and son, Greg Jr., 2.