JACKSONVILLE, FL, U.S.A. U.S. ARMY PFC,CO A, 2D BSTB, 2D INF, FORT CARSON, CO 12/27/2006, BAGHDAD, IRAQ
Three days before PFC Clinton Tyler McCormick died, he talked to his battalion commander about his baby. PFC McCormick, 20, was talking about his beloved gun, the M240B he manned for his platoon sergeant’s Humvee, according to LTCOL James Wolak. PFC McCormick was killed on his first Army deployment holding his “baby.”
Clinton McCormick was wiry, standing 5 foot 5 inches and weighing 120 pounds soaking wet, according to his platoon mates. But he was also “strong as an ox and as hard as nails,”CPT Samuel Fuller said.
His life at home “was no bed of roses,” according to one soldier. When he enlisted on August 25, 2005, he was looking for a new life and a second family — and found both, his friends said.
Clinton loved the Army and Army life and was eager to get everything right. “You wanted to compete with him, not to beat him, but to match his efforts,” CPT Fuller said. “I was in awe of him.”
After PFC McCormick trained as a combat engineer, 11 months later he was in Iraq, where his platoon leader, 1stLT Randy Tau, made him Humvee gunner. Clinton’s face became overwhelmed with the pride of a warrior,” Tau said. “He used to tell me in Iraq, ‘Sir, my job is to protect you, and to make sure you get to go home.’ ”
“PFC McCormick died doing his job, protecting me and the rest of our crew,” `1stLT Tau said. “For that I will forever be humble and thankful.”
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