29, of Leesburg Lake, Fla.; assigned to Combat Service Support Battalion 1, Combat Service Support Group 11, 1st Force Service Support Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed July 20 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.
Florida Marine killed in Iraq
Associated Press
LEESBURG, Fla. — A Marine from central Florida is one of the latest American casualties in Iraq.
Staff Sgt. 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.
Summary of Action CLARK (Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/Combat V)
While serving as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician for Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 1, SSgt Clark participated in 49 EOD related combat missions in support of Combat Service Support Company (CSSC) 111, First Battalion, Fourth Marines (1/4), Second Battalion, Twenty-third Marines (2/23), and Third Battalion, First Marines (3/1).
On 22 March 2003, at Camp Spartan, SSgt Clark exploited an enemy training facility and ammunition cache. SSgt Clark assisted in clearing the area for booby traps and ensuring safe inspection of the area. This allowed Human Intelligence Exploitation Team (HET) and Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) to gather intelligence and capture enemy communications equipment. This action also resulted in denying the enemy the use of various communications equipment, 350 RPG rockets, 200 fragmentation grenades, 100 60mm High Explosive (HE) rounds, 100 82mm HE rounds, and 50 rifle grenades.
On 23 March 2003, before crossing the bridge in An Nasiryah, SSgt Clark assisted in clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) from friendly positions. This action resulted in 6 60mm mortars, 2 40mm HE Dual Purpose (HEDP) and the warhead of a bounding fragmentation RPG rocket being destroyed, allowing the Regiment access to areas free of UXO.
On March 25 2003, while running the gauntlet from An Nasiryah to Al Gharraf SSgt Clark came under fire by sniper and RPG attacks. Although he was driving, he remained calm, cool and collected and continued to move with the convoy. SSgt Clark’s courage and coolness resulted in the team successfully negotiating the “Gauntlet” with the rest of the convoy.
On 26 March 2003 while traveling through Al Hawi at night, the convoy came under fire from both sides of the Main Supply Route (MSR). Again SSgt Clark remained calm while engaging and returning fire. By returning fire and suppressing the enemy, the convoy was able to move through the ambush area to the Regimental assembly area.
On 27 March 2003, at the 7/17 intersections, SSgt Clark responded to UXO at the gas station and assisted in the remote opening of several boxes and the destruction of a fragmentation grenade. Clearing the ordnance and checking for booby traps allowed the infantry to continue their sweep of the area.
On 29 March 2003, in the city of Wasit, SSgt Clark was part of the assault element of “L” 3/1 sent to seize the Baath Party Headquarters of that city. SSgt Clark assisted in the destruction of 65 60mm HE mortars, 15 RPG rockets, and 6000 rounds of small arms ammunition.
On 31 March 2003, North of the 7/17 intersections, SSgt Clark responded to abandoned ordnance and UXO from an attack on 1/4's position the previous night. He assisted in the destruction of 9 RPG rockets, 3 anti-tank grenades, 1 fragmentation grenade, and 3 RPG launchers. This action removed weapons and ordnance from the enemy and removed UXO from 1/4's position.
On 04 April 2003 At Ah Numaniyah, SSgt Clark assisted in the exploitation of a large weapons cache and abandoned mortar and fighting positions. In all, 190 60mm HE Mortars, 71 82mm HE mortars, 223 fragmentation grenades, 51 RPG rockets, 41 rifle grenades, 15 anti-tank landmines, and more than 580,000 rounds of small arms ammunition were destroyed. Additionally 103 AK-47s, 17 machine guns, 21 RPG launchers and 6 60mm mortar systems were also destroyed. This action opened areas for the Regiment to occupy and took weapons and ammunition from the enemy.
On 5 April 2003, at Hanid as Sayyid, SSgt Clark, was part of the assault element of “C” 1/4 sent to exploit an enemy training camp. SSgt Clark assisted in the destruction of 6 14.5mm Anti-Aircraft guns 1 RPG rocket and 80,000 rounds of 14.5mm ammunition. This action removed a serious ground threat to allied aircraft on combat and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions.
On 5 April 2003, at Hanid as Sayyid, SSgt Clark was part of the assault element of “A” 1/4 sent to inspect a suspected Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) site. SSgt Clark reported and identified the suspect ordnance and equipment found through the S-2 for further exploitation.
On 6-7 April 2003, South of Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in the search for booby traps in a house that enabled the recovery of over 10,000 lbs of food and the destruction of 932 AK-47 assault rifles, 11 M-1 carbines, 17 machine guns, 24 RPG launchers, and 16 60mm mortar systems. This action resulted in returning valuable food supplies to the civilian population and took a substantial amount of weapons from enemy hands.
On 08April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in removing over 500 lbs of PE-4B plastic explosives from the bridge that RCT-1 was using to move its elements into the city of Baghdad. This action allowed the regiment to move safely and expeditiously into the city without stalling the attack.
On 8 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in the destruction of 14 14.5mm Anti-Aircraft guns, 6 82mm mortar systems, 11 60mm mortar systems and 1 73mm recoilless rifle. This action denied the enemy a significant amount of weapons firepower that could have been used against U.S. Marines operating in Baghdad.
On 9 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark while under sniper fire outside the UN compound, assisted in the destruction of 59 57mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) rounds, 94 AK-47s, 47 RPG Launchers, 11 M-1 carbines, 3 M-14’s, 6 57mm AAA guns and 14 130mm Artillery sights. This action resulted in depriving enemy forces of assault weapons, indirect fire weapons, and removed a serious ground threat to allied aircraft operating in Baghdad on combat and MEDEVAC missions. SSgt Clark remained calm and focused to the task at hand even though he was operating under constant sniper attack.
On 11 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark exploited an Iraqi ordnance exploitation facility. SSgt Clark assisted in destroying 440 fragmentation grenades, 100 Chemical delay fuzes, 568 anti-personnel mines, 3 U.S. Claymore mines, 20 U.S. 1 lb blocks of TNT, 250 U.S. C.S riot control grenades, 358 U.S. flash bangs and 40 6’ lengths of 225 grain Flexible Linear Shape Charge (FLSC). This action prohibited the further exploitation of US and foreign ordnance by the Iraqi military.
On 11 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in the disablement of 3 SA-6 Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) and 3 SA-7 SAMs, and destroyed 5 Sagger Anti-tank missiles. This action denied anti-tank capabilities to the enemy as well as and removed a serious ground threat to allied aircraft operating in Baghdad on combat and MEDEVAC missions.
On 11 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark exploited a cache and destroyed 127 Anti-tank grenades, 304 RPG rockets, 59 82mm HE mortars, 160 60mm HE mortars, 109 fragmentation grenades, 25 lbs of PE-4B and other demolition materials. Additionally SSgt Clark disabled 8 SA-3 SAMs. This action removed ordnance from the hands of the enemy as well as removing a serious ground threat to allied aircraft operating in Baghdad on combat and MEDEVAC missions.
On 12 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in the removal of an anti-personnel landmine from “E” 2/23 Command Post (CP). This action resulted in removing an extreme hazard to U.S. Marines operating in the command post.
On 12 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in the removal and destruction of 81 Dual Purpose/Improved Conventional Munitions (DP/ICM) from civilian homes and the local school. Most of these were moved by hand at great personal risk, as the area could not withstand a high order detonation or render safe procedure. This action resulted in the removal of UXO from the civilian community and gained invaluable personal relations between the US Marines and the civilians of Baghdad.
On 12 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark coordinated the removal and assisted in the destruction of 800 Anti-personnel mines from a school. This action removed a large amount of mines from the hands of the enemy, and also enabled the reopening a school in Baghdad and gained invaluable personal relations between the US Marines and the civilians of Baghdad.
On 13 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in the destruction of UXO in the area to be occupied as the “E” 2/23 CP. This action resulted in the destruction of 1 RPG rocket, 17 82mm mortars and 29 60mm mortars and allowed for the safe occupation of the area by “E” 2/23.
On 13 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in the exploitation and destruction of an enemy ammunition cache. 1277 60mm HE mortars, 469 82mm HE mortars, 1374 rifle grenades, 546 RPG rockets, 25 fragmentation grenades, 41 anti-personnel landmines, and 200 lbs of PE-4A Plastic Explosives. This action resulted in the removal a sizable amount of ordnance from enemy hands.
On 15 April 2003, in Baghdad, while providing EOD escort on a “key civilian leaders tour” being conducted by 2/23, SSgt Clark assisted in the removal of 3 82mm HE mortars and 1 60mm HE mortars from a playground, 1 SA-16 SAM from a civilians yard, 7 DP/ICM and 2 PRGs from a mosque. This action removed UXO from high visibility sites and gained invaluable personal relations between the US Marines and the civilian leaders of Baghdad.
On 17 April 2003, SSgt Clark coordinated the removal of ordnance from a mosque to the Division Ordnance Disposal site for destruction. This action resulted in 40 HOTT-2 Anti-tank missile, 8 60mm mortars, 6 82mm mortars, 14 RPG rockets being removed from the enemy hands as well as being a high visibility site, gaining invaluable personal relations between the US Marines and the civilians of Baghdad.
On 18 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark coordinated and assisted in the removal of 60 120mm HE mortars and 4 60 mm HE mortars from the main Baghdad power plant to the Division Ordnance Disposal site for destruction. This action removed ordnance from the hands of the enemy, facilitated the reestablishment of a key civilian infrastructure and gained invaluable personal relations between the US Marines and the civilians of Baghdad.
On 19 April 2003, in Baghdad, SSgt Clark assisted in the destruction of 6 DP/ICM, 1fragmentation grenade and 1 40mm High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) from a civilian neighborhood. This action resulted in the destruction of UXO in the civilian community and gained invaluable personal relations between the U.S. Marines and the civilians of Baghdad.
SSgt Clark continually worked under arduous conditions at one point he operated more than 10 days in a row working 18 + hours doing a job that is by nature extremely dangerous as well as mentally and physically exhausting, yet continued to produce staggering results. While conducting EOD operations in and around Baghdad, SSgt Clark and his team traveled without the luxury of a security team,
which left he and his team vulnerable to enemy attack at any time given time.
As one of six EOD technicians assigned to RCT-1, SSgt Clark was on call 24 hours a day to insure EOD support was available for the variety of EOD missions associated with combat and humanitarian operations assigned to RCT-1 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."
1stLt Christopher Quimby of Carlisle, PA
