32 years old from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Army’s 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas
April 11, 2004
Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence Colton, 32, of Oklahoma City, was killed Sunday April 11, 2004 when his helicopter was shot down near Baghdad.
He providing air support for a fuel convoy when his Apache helicopter was shot down by ground fire.
Colton, a Killeen, Texas, resident, was born in Guthrie and joined the Army in 1992. He had been stationed at Fort Hood since December 2000.
Colton’s father, Loren Nix, said his son was “a hell of a good guy.”
Nix said the family would not be making any other comments.
“Right now we don’t want to talk,” he said. “We’re just trying to get him home.”
Shannon Daughtry, Colton’s ex-wife, said he was a successful cross country runner and won medals at his Midwest City high school.
She said his picture still hangs on the wall at Carl Albert High School.
“He’s been in the military for 12 years,” she said. “He definitely planned on being a lifer.”
Colton left behind a wife in Texas and an 11-year-old son from his marriage with Daughtry.
Colton seemed to enjoy his military career. He was quoted in a recent news release from the 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment describing conditions in Iraq.
“Life’s not so bad here,” Colton said. “We get some mortars here and there, but they’re not that effective. We’ve got good flying and good maintenance. We’re well-suited for the mission here,” Colton said.
It’s unclear when Colton made those comments.
Colton was based in Camp Cooke, Iraq, a frequent target for mortar and rocket attacks.
The text of this piece was altered by me. CWO Colton was killed with a fellow officer when their helicopter crashed. Chief Warrant Officer Chuck Fortenberry. I'll be profiling him next week.
These brave men and women have given their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
The Only Thing Necessary For Evil To Triumph
Is For Good Men To Do Nothing
2 comments:
I want to say Thank You for your piece on my brother Shane and his crewmate Chuck. It will be 3 yrs next April and they are both still very much missed. I know Shane would say "I am not a Hero, I am just doing my job for my Country." Again Thank You and God Bless. Lori
You're very welcome, Lori.
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