HUNTINGTON, IN, US
U. S. Army
SPC, CO F, 4TH BDE SPT BN, 1ST BDE COMBAT TEAM, FORT CARSON, CO
08/30/2010, IVO VILLAGE OF MORGHAN, AFGHANISTAN
Army Specialist Chad D. Clements of Huntington, Indiana was killed on August 20, 2010 in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Four other unit members were also lost. Specialist Clements was assigned to the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, of the 4th Infantry Division based in Fort Carson, Colorado.
Chad Clements was a 2002 graduate of Huntington North High School. He joined the Army in February 2009. This was his first deployment and he had only been in Afghanistan for 3 weeks.
A Huntington soldier was killed Monday, Aug. 30, in Afghanistan, just weeks after he arrived in the war-torn country. He was twenty-six years old.
Chad’s Army buddy who accompanied him notes that the trip was not at all what he had intended as a home return. He also noted that Chad taught him about life, while he taught Chad about the Army. The two developed a close friendship, and Chad was recognized as the guy to go to get things done. Humor included Chad being introduced to artichoke dip and potato salad and included lots of teasing.
Just before Chad deployed, he signed up for membership in American Legion Post 85, where his sister works. Chad’s favorite holiday was the Fourth of July and Chad is described as both tough and tender with the same take-charge attitude as the Bible’s David. Home friends remember him wanting to look good and sporting a freshly pressed shirt.
Chad’s other interests included his love of NASCAR, hockey and trucks, including a low-rider truck he owned. Friends remember his silver low-rider for a while, which he replaced with a large red truck, which was so big, you couldn’t get it through the car wash. Chad’s big red truck was driven behind the family limousine as the Patriot Riders led the funeral procession to Mount Cavalry Cemetery.
Chad had a military heritage, as his father, who died in 2001, was a Navy veteran. Chad was even born in the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA. Chad Clements is survived by his mother, stepfather, sister, stepbrother and sister, grandparents and fiancée, all of whom witnessed Chad’s award of both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.