Lee Co. Marine killed in Afghanistan - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Lee Co. Marine killed in Afghanistan

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By Tara Herrschaft - bio | email

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LEE COUNTY, GA (WALB) -

Steve Sutton was a husband, son, brother, marine, and now his is a fallen hero.

Sutton's wife Toni was told on Saturday that he was killed in combat while on a patrol in Afghanistan. The 24 year-old lance corporal was from Leesburg and had been stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in December of 2009.

Sutton graduated from Lee County High School in 2007, where he played football as an offensive lineman.

"He was a really goofy kid, that liked to joke around, have a lot of fun. But on Friday nights, his demeanor would change, his personality would change. He was all about competing and playing hard," said Ed Reaves, the defensive line coach for the Lee County High School football team. 

His coaches say after high school Sutton played football at a junior college in California, but decided to take a different path. His former offensive line coach remembers when Sutton first told him about going into the military.

"I was in the field house one day and he showed up and I said, what are you doing?  And he said, well I've decided not to go back.  I said, are you sure that's what you want to do?  He said, yeah, he felt like he had a bigger calling.  And he told me he wanted to go into the Marines," said Rick Carr, the offensive line coach for the Lee County High School football team. 

Now their worst nightmare has come true.

"We're with them so many hours a day that they become like family members to us. And then when something happens to one of these kids it's like happening to a family member. It's hard, it's real difficult. Though I'm very proud of the sacrifice he made, it still hurts very bad."

Sutton's wife says he's not just an American hero, he's also her hero.

SSutton's wife is currently in North Carolina.  She says she's going to get his body Tuesday, then she'll make the trip back to Leesburg.  She went on to say Sutton was an amazing husband and stepfather and loved life.

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A Marine from Lee County was killed in Afghanistan.

Family members say they were told on Saturday that 24 year-old Steven Sutton was killed in Afghanistan.

He grew up in Lee County and graduated from Lee County High School in 2007. 

Sutton was a Lance Corporal and was deployed in January. 

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