Ian Sutherland

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ian D.W. Sutherland of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 5, 2003, from injuries related to a skydiving accident.

Col. Sutherland was born Feb. 7, 1933, son of Adam W. and Mary Moser Sutherland, and raised in Jefferson City, Tenn.

He graduated from Carson-Newman College with a degree in biology and chemistry. He received a master's degree in zoology and physiology from Tulane University in New Orleans.

After retiring from military service, he received a master's of public administration from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. He subsequently graduated from the School of Law at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

At the time of his death, he was the First Assistant prosecuting attorney in Cape Girardeau County. In a 15-year career as a trial lawyer, he prosecuted thousands of cases and tried 123 jury trials.

During his military career he was a member of the Old Guard -- the Army ceremonial unit -- and participated in the state funerals of President John F. Kennedy and Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

He served three tours of duty in Vietnam, was associated with the 82nd Airborne Division (Green Berets), and was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. He retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel from the Special Forces School at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

His awards are numerous and include the Silver Star, two Legion of Merits, and five Bronze Stars.

He was a Kentucky Colonel, Tennessee Squire, and a member of Who's Who Among American Lawyers.

Col. Sutherland authored the book "Special Forces of the United States Army, 1952-1982," referred to by Gen. Colin Powell as the "authoritative" book on that period of the history of the Special Forces.

He is survived by three children, Duncan and Douglas Sutherland, and Anne S. Whaley of Knoxville, Tenn.; two sisters, Alice S. Pryor and Helen I. Jolley of Jefferson City, Tenn.; nieces, Mary Alice P. Lyon, Amy P. Colton, Helen P. Arnold; nephews, Dennis Pryor III and Seth Jolley; and 13 great-nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A memorial service will follow at 3 at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be held at a later date at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Presbyterian Church, 721 Church Street, Jefferson City, Tenn., 37760; or John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum, P.O. Box 70060, Ft. Bragg, N.C., 28307, attention George Heib.