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Flags lowered Friday for Army Spc. Chazray Clark

by Tonya Durlach

Sept. 28, 2011 | WMU News

LANSING, Mich.--By order of Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, U.S. flags on all campuses of Western Michigan University and throughout Michigan will be lowered Friday, Sept. 30, in honor of U.S. Army Spc. Chazray C. Clark, of Ecorse, Mich., who died Sept. 18 in Afghanistan's Kandahar province.

Clark, age 24, died of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan. He joined the Army in 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan with the 4-4 Calvary in February.

Clark was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal with Bronze service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge, Basic Marksmanship Qualifications Badge, Rifle Expert Marksmanship Badge and Overseas Service Bar. He received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and NATO Medal posthumously.

There will be a public viewing from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Greater Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the First Baptist Missionary Church in Ecorse. Interment will follow at the Detroit Memorial Park in Redford, Mich.

Former Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm issued a proclamation in 2003, requiring U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty. Michigan was among the first states to honor its fallen sons and daughters by lowering flags.