Honoree: Michael K. Clark


Michael K. Clark
Dates: Died October 7, 2008
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: Sergeant
Player: Zach Kingsland

Sergeant Michael Clark, 24, of Sacramento, Calif., was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo. He died October 7, 2008, when he encountered small arms fire while on dismounted patrol in Mosul, Iraq.

A 2000 graduate of Amador High School, SGT Clark joined the Army in 2004 shortly after his son was born so he could serve his country and give his family a better life. Shortly after returning home from his first deployment in 2006, SGT Clark shattered his hip in a motorcycle accident. He refused to let this prevent him from returning to his men, and in early 2008, he returned to Iraq for a second tour of duty. He received a medal for a February incident in which he pulled four soldiers from a Humvee that had been attacked and hit by an IED.

SGT Clark loved to ride dirt bikes, enjoyed snowboarding, mountain biking, and owned a custom-built motorcycle and a 1986 Mustang GT. “He loved to go fast,” said his mother. “My son loved life with a passion. He had so much energy and life.”

SGT Clark is survived by his wife, Nalini and son, Lucas.