Cpl. Kevin M. Clarke, USMC
The Department of Defense announced on February 22 the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cpl. Kevin M. Clarke, 21, of Tinley Park, Ill., died Feb. 19 as a
result of hostile action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to
1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
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Associated Press -- CHICAGO -- A 21-year-old Marine from Tinley Park with a month left to serve in Iraq was killed by small arms fire near the Syrian border, family members said Monday.
Cpl. Kevin Michael Clarke was killed last week in Qaim, which is in western Iraq, his father, Philip Clarke, said Monday evening.
Clarke, a three-sport athlete at Andrew High School in Tinley Park, firmly believed his mission in Iraq was for a good cause, his father said.
"He believed that they were freeing the Iraqi people," Philip Clarke said. "I am so proud of my son. He is a hero."
Longtime neighbors fondly remembered Clarke.
"He was always a very sweet guy," said Mary Ellen Conckus, who has lived near the Clarke family for about 20 years. "He had told the kids on the block that this is what he always wanted to do - to join the Marines."
Clarke's parents were informed of his death on Saturday, but the Marines who visited their suburban Chicago home had few details, Philip Clarke said.
Clarke was attached to a Marine unit based in Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. His current tour of duty, which was his second in Iraq, was scheduled to end in March, Philip Clarke said.
He said his son was religious and devoted to his fellow Marines.
"He was very passionate about his Lord and his Corps," Philip Clarke said.
Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki said Clarke is the second alum of Andrew High School to be killed in Iraq.
Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Sutter, 28, also of Tinley Park, died in December 2003 when a bomb he was attempting to defuse exploded.
"This being the second (local serviceman killed), it hits home doubly hard," Zabrocki said Monday. "It hits home every time you see this."
In high school, Clarke was on the wrestling, track and football teams, attaining varsity letters in all three sports, wrestling coach Dave Arndt said.
"Kevin was a very genuine, very sincere, very motivated young man," he said. "He had this great ability to bring out the best in people. This will be a difficult one to get over."
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