Megan McClung
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| Megan M. McClung | |
|---|---|
| April 14, 1972 - December 6, 2006 | |
| Place of death | KIA in Ramadi, Iraq |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1995-2006 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | I MEF |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Major Megan M. McClung (April 14, 1972– December 6, 2006) was the first female United States Marine Corps officer killed in combat during the Iraq War. Maj McClung was serving as the head of U.S. Marine Corps public affairs for Al Anbar Province, Iraq when she was killed. [1]
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[edit] Biography
McClung, of Coupeville, Washington, was born and raised in Orange County, California, graduating from Mission Viejo High School before going on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy[2] where she received her officer's commission in 1995. McClung competed as a gymnast in high school and in college. [3] She was a triathlete (having competed in six Ironman competitions[4]) and a marathoner. In October 2006, she organized and ran in the Marine Corps Marathon's satellite competition [5]in Iraq. [6]
In January 2006, McClung was deployed to Iraq as a public affairs officer with the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). In December 2006, she was in the final month of a yearlong deployment to Iraq.
[edit] Killed in Iraq
On December 6, 2006, McClung was serving with the I Marine Expeditionary Force as the Marine Corps head of public affairs for Al Anbar Province, in charge of embedded journalists.[6] Earlier in the day, she had been accompanying Oliver North with his Fox News camera crew in Ramadi. She subsequently was escorting Newsweek journalists into downtown Ramadi.[7] A massive improvised explosive device (IED) destroyed McClung's Humvee, instantly killing McClung and the other two occupants. The Newsweek journalists were not injured.
Major McClung was the first female graduate of the United States Naval Academy to be killed in action since the school's foundation in 1845.
Major McClung was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on December 27, 2006.[8] [4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ NBC4, December 11, 2006.
- ^ Orange County Register, December 12, 2006.
- ^ Sponsored athletes. Synflex America.
- ^ a b Arlington National Cemetery profile.
- ^ "Marine Corps Marathon to Run in Iraq", News Blaze.
- ^ a b Mitchell, December 12, 2006.
- ^ Strupp, December 18, 2006.
- ^ Fumento, December 19~~~~, 2006.
[edit] References
- American Forces Press Service. "Roadside Bombs Kills Four Soldiers; DoD Identifies Previous Casualties", U.S. Department of Defense, December 11, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- "Female USMC Officer Raised In OC Killed In Iraq Combat", Los Angeles - NBC4, December 11, 2006.
- Fumento, Michael. "In Memoriam:Farewell to Maj. Megan McClung, USMC", The American Spectator, December 27, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- Megan M. McClung, Major, United States Marine Corps. Arlington National Cemetery (December 19, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- Mitchell, Greg. "Marine Officer in Iraq Killed — While Escorting Journalists", Editor & Publisher, December 12, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- Ritchie, Erika I.. "O.C. native dies in Iraq; The Mission Viejo graduate is the first female Marine officer killed in the war.", The Orange County Register, December 12, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
- Strupp, Joe. "Marine Officer Who Died In Iraq Had Been Escorting Oliver North and 'Newsweek' Journalist", Editor & Publisher, December 18, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- Zimmerman, Beth. "First female leatherneck officer killed in Iraq, Public affairs major was ‘Marine’s Marine’", Marine Corps Times, December 12, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
