Megan McClung
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Maj. Megan M. McClung
United States Marine Corps |
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|---|---|
| April 14, 1972 – December 6, 2006 (aged 34) | |
 Then Capt. McClung in undated USMC Photo |
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| Place of birth | Coupeville, Washington |
| Place of death | KIA in Ramadi, Iraq |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1995-2006 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | I Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
| Awards | Purple Heart Bronze Star Hawaii Medal of Honor |
Major (United States) 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 a public affairs officer in 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. McClung competed as a gymnast in high school and in college.[2] She went on to attend the United States Naval Academy.[3] where she received her officer's commission in 1995. 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 was founded in 1845.
Major McClung graduated with her master's degree in Criminology from Boston University several months prior to her death, and was posthumously honored at Boston University's Metropolitan College 2007 commencement ceremonies with the 2006 “Excellence in Graduate Study in Criminal Justice”, which was presented by Dr. Daniel LeClair. Her parents, Drs. Re and Michael, extended their daughter's memory by honoring her by establishing the Major Megan M. McClung Memorial Scholarship.
Major McClung was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on December 27, 2006.[8][4]
In August, for the second year, the Major McClung Memorial Run will be held August 23, 2008 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to raise money for wounded Marines and their families.[9]
[edit] Notes
- ^ NBC4, December 11, 2006.
- ^ Sponsored athletes. Synflex America.
- ^ Orange County Register, December 12, 2006.
- ^ 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.
- ^ After Megan died, parents learned about the Marine their little girl became, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 26, 2008.
[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.
