Eagle's Example Will Live On

By Kyle Wingfield

On April 4, 2003, Capt. Tristan Aitken was leading 217 soldiers in the war in Iraq when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his Humvee and killed him. Tristan's parents said they believe he was riding in the lead of his convoy, assessing the needs of his troops himself rather than sending someone else to do the job. He is one of at least three Eagle Scouts killed in the war.

As a Boy Scout growing up in State College, Pennsylvania, Tristan loved exploring new subjects and earning merit badges and skill awards. So it was only natural, his mother says, that when he arrived at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, he sought an activity with similar challenges and rewards--Reserve Officer Training Corps. Scouting and ROTC also taught Tristan the importance of serving God and country, leading him to make a career of the military.

Ruth Aitken said Scouting taught her son responsibility at an early age and helped keep him out of trouble in a temptation-filled college town. "I gave him responsibility early, and I could trust him, and I'm sure the reason is that in Scouting he learned the lessons very early about responsibility and (being a) positive influence on your peers," she said.

Tristan became an Eagle Scout at age 17 and shortly afterward enrolled at TCU, where he became a member of the Ranger challenge team. Mrs. Aitken remembers Tristan calling home to tell his family how his Scouting lessons had been invaluable when he had to put up a tent during a torrential storm.

"They were amazed when he went to ROTC at his abilities to put up a tent. And I remember him saying, 'Geez Dad, I don't believe this. Mine was the only one that withstood the storm.' And he said, 'You know where I learned to do that, Dad.'"

By the time Tristan graduated from college, he had earned a three-year scholarship and won the AMVETS medal as top cadet at TCU for two consecutive years. Mrs. Aitken said that TCU's Army staff had high praise for Tristan. "One gentleman said that Tristan was in the top 10 that he'd seen graduate in his 20 years (at TCU)," she said.

Because of Eagle Scout Tristan Aitken's example and leadership, the fruits of Scouting will have a lasting impact on those to whom he was a mentor and friend.