7/20/2004
Associated Press
LEESBURG, Fla. — A Marine from central Florida is one of the latest American casualties in Iraq.
GySgt. Michael J. Clark, 29, from Leesburg, was killed in Anbar province on Tuesday, the Department of Defense said. Anbar province is a Sunni-dominated expanse of western Iraq that includes the embattled cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, and a portion of the Syrian border area.
Clark, an 11-year veteran of the Marine Corps and a bomb disposal expert, was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Battalion 1, Combat Service Support Group 11, 1st Force Service Support Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Since joining the Marine Corps in 1993, Clark had been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Gunnery Sergeant Michael J. Clark Facebook Memorial Page:
United States Marine Corps
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician of the Year
25 July 1974 – 20 July 2004
Gunnery Sergeant Michael J. Clark was born in Daytona Beach, Florida on July 25, 1974. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 25 April 1993 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island during July 1993. Gunnery Sergeant Clark attended Aviation Ordnanceman training in Millington, Tennessee where he was promoted to Lance Corporal. Upon graduation and follow on training at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California he was assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 in Okinawa Japan.
During March 1995 Gunnery Sergeant Clark was transferred to Marine Air Group 49, Fourth Marine Air Wing for I&I duty. While assigned as an Ordnance Logistics Management Noncommissioned Officer, Gunnery Sergeant Clark was responsible for the requisitioning and tracking of all ordnance within Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing. Gunnery Sergeant Clark was also responsible for training reserve Marines and assuring their proficiency within their MOS. Gunnery Sergeant Clark completed deployments to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and Marine Corps Air/Ground Combat Center Twenty Nine Palms, California. Gunnery Sergeant Clark was also during this period an instructor at the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing NCO Course. During his off duty time Gunnery Sergeant Clark attended courses at Military Academy West Point completing a Bachelors Degree in Psychology.
In January 1999 Gunnery Sergeant Clark received orders to Explosive Ordnance Disposal School at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. After graduation of EOD school, Gunnery Sergeant Clark received orders to 3rd Force Service Support Group, Camp Hansen Okinawa. While assigned to 3rd EOD platoon Gunnery Sergeant Clark deployed to mainland Japan for Forrest Light, the Philippines for Balikatan, Thailand and South Korea for Foal Eagle 1999 and Korean Incremental Training Program 2001 where he completed Korean Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training School. Gunnery Sergeant Clark also deployed to Artillery Relocation Exercises in Ojojihara, Japan as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team Leader. Gunnery Sergeant Clark was assigned as a Team Leader for Secret Service Support to Beijing China and the 57th United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Gunnery Sergeant Clark completed Dynamic Entry training and Close Quarters Battle training through I MEF and III MEF Special Operations Training Groups while assigned to the Direct Action Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. While assigned to the MEU Gunnery Sergeant Clark deployed to Guam, Iwo Jima, South Korea, Japan and Australia.
During November 2002 Gunnery Sergeant Clark transferred to 1st Force Service Support Group Camp Pendleton, California. Gunnery Sergeant Clark participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom from March until May 2003 and continued serving in Iraq as an EOD Team Leader for Task Force Scorpion until September 2003. Gunnery Sergeant Clark returned to Iraq in February 2004 as an EOD Team Leader assigned to Combat Service Support Battalion-1 Fallujah, Iraq. Gunnery Sergeant Clark was promoted posthumously to his current rank and was also selected for Warrant Officer.
Gunnery Sergeant Clark’s personal decorations include the Combat Action Ribbon, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat “V” and a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.