Lawton, Garrett Tucker
Male
Verified Capt. Garrett Tucker Lawton, 31, of Charleston, West Virginia, was a U.S. Marine Corps officer assigned to Marine Special Operations Command. He was killed in action on August 4, 2008, in Afghanistan.
Their Story
Garrett Tucker Lawton was a captain in the United States Marine Corps. He served with Headquarters Company, 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, part of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, Lawton died on August 4, 2008, in the Herat province of western Afghanistan. The official report states his death was the result of wounds sustained from enemy small-arms fire during a dismounted patrol.
Lawton was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. The operation initially focused on removing the Taliban government in Afghanistan and targeting al-Qaeda. By 2008, the conflict had evolved into a protracted counterinsurgency.
Following his death, the Marine Corps posthumously awarded Lawton the Purple Heart. His remains were returned to the United States, and a memorial service was held in his home state of West Virginia.
Lawton is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty lists maintained by the Department of Defense and on the West Virginia Veterans Memorial. He was one of 2356 American service members who died during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Explore Further
Capt. Lawton was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
