Airmen, Soldiers say farewell to comrade in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Bob Thompson
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  Honored as a hero, leader and friend, a member from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, was remembered here by Airmen of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and Soldiers of Logistics Support Area Anaconda Aug. 24. 

During the memorial service, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Stan Giles, the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group chaplain, asked the standing-room-only crowd of about 400 to pray for Sergeant Clemmons' family and the families of all explosive ordnance disposal technicians who serve in harm's way. 

"Nearly 20 years ago," Colonel Giles said, "Brad entered perhaps the most dangerous of all career fields. He became an instructor in the most dangerous of all professions and then volunteered to work in the most dangerous of all neighborhoods here in Iraq." 

Sergeant Clemmons, 37, of Chillicothe, Ohio, died Aug. 21 while he was traveling as part of a convoy near Taji, Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. 

Sergeant Clemmons was a weapons intelligence flight team leader from the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. 

According to a citation read at the memorial service, Sergeant Clemmons was on the mission to perform forensic analysis and intelligence collection on two reported improvised explosive devices when his vehicle struck an IED hidden in the road.

"Sergeant Clemmons fulfilled a critical role," said Lt. Col. Frank Freeman, the 732nd EMSG deputy commander. "He led his team in collecting crucial evidence and post-blast analysis of the No. 1killer in Iraq -- IEDs." 

The primary job of an EOD team is to disarm, or "render safe," bombs of all types. Teams usually dispose of the explosives in a controlled detonation at the scene or at a secure range. 

Sergeant Clemmons was deployed from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron at Eielson AFB. 

"Sergeant Clemmons was a great teacher," Colonel Freeman said. "His purpose was to inform others to keep them safe from harm." 

Colonel Giles had visited Sergeant Clemmons about nine days before the incident. 

"EOD is a very tight team," Colonel Giles said. "It was clear that Brad was a leader and a lover of his team, his people, his family, his mission and his country." 

"One of his best qualities was his leadership," Colonel Freeman said. "His team couldn't wait to get back out after the incident, because they know that is what Sergeant Clemmons would want them to do." 

"In times of war, we see human nature at its extremes," the colonel said. "We see it at both its absolute worst and absolute best. Today, we honor one of the best. Brad was a true hero; a hero who put service before self and died in the line of duty."