TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Local Ceremony Underscores Death Toll In Iraq

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEITH MORELLI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

TAMPA - TAMPA - Special Section And Search Database Of Fallen Soldiers

TAMPA -- Cory Clark was Wrenita Codrington's middle son. She said later Wednesday that she doesn't fully agree with having troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I understand 9/11," she said. "I understand our pursuit to bring peace and safety to our own ground. But, whether we should be in Iraq or Afghanistan, well, in my opinion, I'm not seeing the point in it."

She doesn't listen to the news much anymore. She said she can't bear it, especially hearing about so many troops being killed in action this year.

"As a mother," she said, "I can say there are a lot of hurt hearts in this country. That's a lot of somebody's children to have died."

The news this week that 2007 became the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Iraq was brought home Wednesday with a solemn ceremony for two local U.S. Army sergeants who died half of a world away two months ago.

Hillsborough County Commissioners honored Sgt. Cory Clark of Plant City who was killed on Aug. 28 in Afghanistan and Sgt. 1st Class David A. Heringes of Tampa who died a day later in Iraq.

The morning's remembrance ceremony took place in the county commission's chambers, where board members presented the dead soldiers' families with plaques. Their names also will be added to a memorial marker at the Joe Chillura Courthouse Square in downtown Tampa.

Chairman Joe Chillura Courthouse Square voice broke as he presented plaques to the families. After the ceremony, the families went across the street to the square, where they viewed the memorial to Hillsborough soldiers killed in combat since Sept. 11, 2001. County government flags will be flown at half-staff Thursday and Friday in honor of the solders' ultimate sacrifices.

Clark, a 25-year-old father of four, grew up in Plant City and graduated from Durant High School. His decorations include a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart and he is survived by his wife, Monica, and the four children. Clark had served two tours of duty in Iraq before being sent to Afghanistan.

Heringes, 36, graduated from Leto High School in 1989 and was decorated with more than a dozen medals, including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He is survived by his wife, Shannan, two children and his parents, who live in Spring Hill.

Since July 2003, Hillsborough commissioners have held ceremonies honoring 29 fallen soldiers from this area who were killed Iraq or Afghanistan.

Wednesday's solemn ceremony came a day after the government's announcement that explosions in Iraq killed six troops, making this year the deadliest since 2003.

The deaths on Monday made it one of the highest daily tolls in weeks, military officials said, and took the year-to-date number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq to 853. The worst previous year was 2004, when 849 troops were killed.

In all, 3,856 U.S. troops have been killed since the U.S.-led the invasion of Iraq four years ago.

The military said attacks Monday were in Kirkuk and Anbar province, both considered among the most dangerous places in Iraq. In the Kirkuk attack, four troops were killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle. The Anbar province attack claimed the life of another soldier on Monday.

A sailor also was killed Monday in an explosion during operations in Salahuddin province, the military said.

Information from Reuters news service was used in this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT