Alumnus honored us with his time and life
Football game dedicated to former Frog
COMMENTARY
Eugene Chu

Tomorrow’s football game seems routine to many. This Saturday, our school’s mighty Horned Frogs will be facing Army’s Black Knights at Amon Carter Stadium. The fact is, TCU is not just playing another football game. While we are simply watching the game, many of our nation’s soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq or other dangerous places far from home. Many people at TCU have military ties, either through themselves or association with others. Along with current TCU students, faculty and staff, this football game will also be extraordinarily special for a certain group of TCU alumni.

This weekend’s football game will be dedicated to a special alumnus, U.S. Army Capt. Tristen Aitken. Many members of his family will come Saturday to honor their son, nephew and husband. Before and during the football game, our nation’s soldiers and veterans will be honored for their bravery and sacrifice. While his family and Army ROTC will attend the game, Aitken cannot. Aitken, TCU class of 1995, died in the service of his country on April 4 in Iraq when his convoy was ambushed and a rocket-propelled grenade hit his vehicle.

Capt. Aitken’s accomplishments are numerous and distinguished. While at TCU, Aitken served on the elite Ranger Challenge team, placed 5th out of 260 cadets at ROTC Advanced Camp and earned Distinguished Military Graduate status along with his degree in Biology with a communications minor. After he graduated from TCU, Aitken deployed to Kosovo and later to Iraq, received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart along with his other medals and sadly became the first TCU graduate to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom. While cynics may claim that he was simply serving a political agenda, we need to remember that his death was for innocent Iraqis and Americans.

Along with his achievements, Aitken’s served as an example for others. He earned the respect of his fellow officers and soldiers, regardless of their background. A devout Christian, he lived by the poem, “The Winner’s Creed.” In Kosovo, Capt. Aitken’s unit “adopted” a school and he personally found time to teach English to the students. Those at TCU who personally knew him said he was not only a great leader, but a personal friend.

While many people recognize TCU alumni in the fields of business, academics or other fine fields, they sometimes forget that our alumni have also fought for freedom. Names honoring TCU’s World War II veterans are engraved near the sidewalk in front of Reed Hall. In this current war against terrorism, TCU has alumni risking their lives to protect America and to defeat tyrants who have supported terrorism. When TCU and Army play tomorrow, remember the loss of Capt. Tristen Aitken. He wasn’t just another statistic on the news, he was a Horned Frog.

Eugene Chu is a senior political science from Arlington.