TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
“... STRONG TRANSFERRED TO ATLANTA, GA, WHERE HE ACCEPTED A VICE PRESIDENT POSITION AT BANK OF AMERICA. AFTER THE 911 TERRORIST ATTACK, HE WAS CALLED BACK TO ACTIVE DUTY AND ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES COMMAND (FORSCOM) ...”
Operation(s) Just Cause and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In 1991, Strong married a fellow VSU Trojan, Wilma “Cookie” O’Rourke, and they started their family while he was assessed into the Army Acquisition Corps and assigned to the 23rd Quartermaster Battalion at Fort Lee, VA. During this assignment, their oldest child, Noelle Lindsay, was born. Captain Strong served as a Combat Developer, was promoted to Major, and left the Army to join the ranks of Corpo- rate America; however, he continued serving in the Army Reserves. With his corporate career on track, Strong transferred to Atlanta, GA, where he accepted a vice president position at Bank of America. After the 911 terrorist attack, he was called back to active duty and assigned
to Headquarters, United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) as the lead Mortuary Affairs Officer; he was later assigned to the 108th Training Division as a Battalion Executive Officer before being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In 1998, the Strong family welcomed their second child, Noah Evan (Eta Chi 2019). Strong deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, for Operation Iraqi Freedom. One of his deployment’s highlights was his and his family featured on HLN’s Salute to the Troops with Robin Meade. He would complete two additional deployments, return to Fort Lee, VA, in 2011, for the culmination of his military career, and retire in 2014. After 34 years of military service, Strong accepted a position at the Pentagon
and continued his service as the Army’s subject matter expert regarding mortuary affairs, field service, and aerial delivery operations. He joined the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, where he and his family worshipped under Rev. Dr. How- ard-John Wesley (Iota Xi 1991). On Father’s Day morn- ing, June 18, 2023, Noah Kenneth “Ken” Strong, entered the Chapter Invis- ible. In August 2023, the U.S. Army posthumously awarded to Strong the Mer- itorious Civilian Service Medal for his exceptional service to the Department of the Army and to Soldiers worldwide. Strong’s exemplary military career included awards and decorations: the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal,
Commendation Medal (3OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, SWA Service Medal-2 Stars, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M Device. Brother Noah K. Strong is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Hobert “Larry” Strong, and three sisters. He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Wilma “Cookie” O’Rourke Strong; son, Marquis Mag- azine; daughter, Noelle Lindsay Strong, son, Noah Evan Strong (Eta Chi 2019), as well as three grandsons, and a host of beloved relatives. ♦
Meritorious Service Medal (5OLC), Army
WINTER 2023-2024 ♦ THE JOURNAL 71
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