Soldier in Focus — Spc. Kyle Clark

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Kyle Clark (left), of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1192nd Engineer Company (Horizontal), 101st Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, takes the blood pressure of a Soldier at the Battalion Aid Station at Camp Liberty, Iraq.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.15.2009

Courtesy Story

225th Engineer Brigade

BAGHDAD - Today's Soldier in Focus is Spc. Kyle Clark. He is a soldier of the 1192nd Engineer Company (Horizontal), 101st Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division-Baghdad.

Clark, 25, was raised, and still lives, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother and two younger sisters, currently reside in the area.

In 2002, Clark graduated from Glen Este High School and developed a passion for politics. Enrolling into the University of Cincinnati, Clark chose political science as his major.

"I'm really big into politics and tend to focus my classes around it," said Clark.

At college, Clark is a member of College Democrats of America. His past accomplishments consist of supporting the Democratic Party, volunteering his service at meetings, canvassing neighborhoods and helping to organize campaign rallies. He provided service to his community by working on local campaigns.

"We canvassed for the Obama campaign [and] tried to get people out to vote," said Clark.

Beyond politics, a huge influence in Clark's life was his father. He was a dedicated, blue-collar worker at Ford Motor Company in Ohio. Clark's father was such a big role-model because he worked hard his whole life, kept his career during times of mass layoffs and worked overtime often to support his family.

"When I was 16 my father passed away and I wanted to do something that would honor his memory and make him proud."

Wanting to pay tribute his father's legacy, Clark would go on to enlist in the Ohio Army National Guard in March 2006.

After completing basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., Clark spent sixteen weeks at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to become a healthcare specialist. The reason he pursued this field was to honor a personal commitment. Clark had lost friends who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Having seen what losing a Soldier does to a family, I want to make sure everyone goes home," he said. "This is a main factor in joining the military."

Clark previously deployed with the 216th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) to Baton Rouge, La., to support relief efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. His duties were to provide Soldiers with medical relief at the cleanup sites.

Clark then volunteered to join the 1192nd Eng. Co. in its deployment to Iraq. This deployment will increase his college financial assistance benefits and will allow him to give back to his community.

"The Guard ... gives me the opportunity to [serve and] give back to my country," said Clark.

Currently in Iraq, Clark's duties range from providing minor medical assistance to serious trauma care. Whenever he goes out with a platoon or squad on a mission, Clark is responsible for aiding a wide variety of injuries as well as coordinating medical evacuations.

Over the next year of the deployment, Clark hopes share his medical knowledge with the Soldiers he serves with and assist with any issues the Soldier might have, even if it is just to talk.

"[I want] to make sure everyone is trained and all Soldiers get home safe to their families. No matter what the medical problem or if you need to talk or if you have [medical] questions [I am available]," Clark said. "Medical skills are perishable skills; you have to keep them up to date [because] you may have a Soldier's life in your hands."

In the future, Clark plans to continue serving his local and federal communities politically as well as militarily.

• Date Taken: 09.15.2009
• Date Posted: 09.15.2009 02:43
• Story ID: 38763
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ