Ryan J. Clark, 19

Army, Corporal

Based: Baumholder, Germany

40th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: June 29, 2006

Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas, USA

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Lancaster

High School: Antelope Valley High (Lancaster)

Burial: Joshua Memorial Park, Lancaster

Clark was mortally injured when a bomb exploded near his Humvee west of Baghdad. Badly burned, he was first airlifted to Germany and then to Texas. He died 12 days later. He was unconscious during most of his hospital stay but had six hours of wakefulness with his family.

Thomas B. Turner Jr., 07/14/2006

Christopher D. Rose, 06/29/2006

17 memories of Ryan J. Clark

“

Ryan, I can still feel you next to me. I remember when we Met our freshman year we dated off and on for quite some time then I moved to michigan. I thought about you constantly about the day I'd see you again. I came back to CA to visit I got to see you. It was the best feeling ever. You told me you were in the service and protecting our country. I remember I was upset but could not be mad because we need men like you.I found out of your passing when I was in MI.the pain I felt was undescribible I wanted to hold you and see you. I talked with paige for hours just crying and remembering you.you passed for our country and its taken me about 2yrs to come to terms with why. That's why I am writting you now. I want you to know I remember every moment spent with you and every great detail about you. You were my first love my high school love and I hold you dear to heart. I love and respect your courage and honor you to the fullest. I know you can see this wherever you are. I hope its better up there. If you can hear me when I talk to you I hope you hear how much your loved and missed. I ask you everyday on help showing me how to feel that my little brother is in boot camp. I know he's doing what's right but I'm scared. Ryan clark you are a true american hero and I know you fought hard to pull through for your mom and dad! My heart is with them and my prayers go out to your family at home and serving our country. Please help me not be so angry. Watch over your family and all the troops still away from home and their families praying for their return. I love you and know you are okay now. Its taken sometime but today I know you did what you had to. A true American and a true hero. R.I.P. Always missed never forgotten! Lina B.

” — lina barcenas, August 30, 2008 at 10:11 a.m.

“

Hey Ryan its been 2 years since you've passed, and I miss u like crazy. I know we had our fights and have had our problems during and after we dated in high school and while u were in Germany. I wish we could've hung out the last time u were home, but I was at work and it was drama with Alvaro. U remember, u never did like him much. And also now I know ur mom is up there with u now and I know she is finally happy to be up there with u. I miss u Ryan. I wish things were different with us and everything now. But ur mine and my kids' hero. We wouldn't have our freedom if it wasn't for u. Watch over us will u? I hope ur the one helping me when I'm upset or when I'm struggling with a problem. Take care of yourself Ryan. I'll never ever forget u!! Love ya boy.

Always and Forever
Vanessa

” — Vanessa, September 9, 2008 at 11:49 a.m.

“

hey ryan it been three years since you have been gone, but that dosnt mean i forgot about you i will never forget you. I wish i could go back to that day three years ago and change everything so u could be here with with me today. but i know there is nothing i could have done differant that day that would have changed things. You not being here is killing me everyday, i miss the hell out of you, we had great times when we were in germany togather and i will never forget them. it killed me even more when i foumd out your mom had passed away, but i know you two are togather up there and your both happy. i dont know what else to say other then watch over me like you have been doing and you will always be in my heart.

” — Sgt. AJ D'Imperio, July 4, 2009 at 12:09 p.m.

“

Hey Ryan its been a fews years now since the loss of such a young life. Yesterday Hollie and I stopped by yours and your moms grave to put a flag up to let you know that we have not forgotten about you. Hollie wears the heart with your picture on it as a good luck charm every chance she gets. It's just seems like yesterday when you moved in across the street and instantly we became friends saying how we were invited to each others birthday parties. All the good times we had playing street hockey, building jumps for our bikes with Sean, and most importantly blowing things up with our modified fireworks. I remember us sitting on the curb in front of my house and we use to have long talks about life and the military. Never thought I'd lose a best friend this way. It's crazy how things came together with you moving next door then Hollie moving in and becoming your step sister and now Hollie and I have been together for 5 years now. I know you'd be extremely happy knowing that she is in good hands, we miss you like crazy brotha. See you on the other side with my number is called.

” — Mike, July 5, 2011 at 10:54 a.m.

“

I first met Ryan when he joined the Cadet Corps during his freshman year at Antelope Valley High School. I had Ryan and his brother Sean as two of my cadets. I remember how dedicated they both were to the Cadet Corps, and I am proud that they have served, and are still serving our country. The last time that I saw Ryan, we had lunch together at Crazy Ottos. Ryan was on his way to serve in an Engineer unit in Germany. We talked about being an Engineer, and I told Ryan about some of my experiences as an Engineer in Vietnam. I was shocked, and sad to hear that he had died in Iraq. It was my honor, as his Cadet Corps instructor, fellow soldier, and friend to have known Ryan and his brother. I still talk about Ryan to my students, and I still have a picture of Ryan in my desk drawer. Rest in peace, and thank-you for your service.

” — David D. Brown First Sergeant, U.S. Army Retired, January 20, 2014 at 4:13 p.m.

“

It's been over six years Ryan since I have posted on here. I don't know what made me come back on here but I did. I just want to say that I still miss you like crazy and that I will never forget you and I don't want to ever! Remember back when we we're in Kuwait togather that we talked about doing a road trip from Pennsylvania to California. Then I re-enlisted and you were upset that I had and I remember you saying what about our road trip. I wish we could have done that togather, that would have defiantly been a fun time togather. But this year is going to be 10 years that you have been gone. I just want to say that I am doing that road trip this year because I thought I owe that to you. I wanted to come visit you more times then I can remember but I have been scared to. I have finally built up the courage to come visit you. I will be there on the 29th of June,2016 to finally pay my respects to you and to finally come to peace with what happened. I was told that I should come visit your grave because it would finally bring closure to me. I don't have much more to say other then i miss you being here everyday and that I will never forget you.

” — AJ D'Imperio, March 5, 2016 at 8:44 p.m.

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Ryan J. Clark, 19

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17 memories of Ryan J. Clark

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