Ramadi Press Officer Megan McClung
In working on my post on the L.A. Times report on the Ramadi airstrike, I exchanged several e-mails with Maj. Megan McClung, a press officer in Ramadi. She was at all times very cooperative and friendly with me. She never once gave me the impression that she thought my inquiries were unimportant because they were coming from a mere blogger. I quoted her by name in the post:
Major Megan McClung, a Public Affairs Officer with the Marine Corps in Ramadi, said in an e-mail:
Thank you for your interest in setting the record straight on the events of Nov 13 -14. . . . There were no CF [Coalition Forces] air strikes that day.
Badger 6 now reports:
Right now I don’t even know how to feel. MAJ Megan McClung, USMC, Public Affairs Officer for the Ready First Combat Team was killed in downtown Ramadi yesterday.
I met MAJ McClung quite by accident when I first arrived here – we sat next to each other in the Dining Facility one day and happened to start talking. With her job and my interests in writing and telling the story, there was a natural conversation that took place.
Over the last two months I would see her quite often, the rather diminutive redhead in desert MARPAT was not someone you could miss. We spoke often and I liked her.
Yesterday she was out in town with a patrol trying to get the information to help shape our story when she was killed in an enemy attack.
I don’t know what to say.
UPDATE: I was informed of Maj. McClung’s death by Badger 6 yesterday morning, via Google chat. The first questions I asked him before posting were whether her family had been notified, and whether it would be OK to post about it. He replied that they had been informed, that the communications blackout had been lifted, and that he had already posted about it himself.
Since then we have both learned that we inadvertently violated a regulation that imposes a 24-hour waiting period after the family is notified, to respect their privacy and give them an appropriate mourning period. Once a commenter raised the issue yesterday, I e-mailed a press officer over lunch to ask whether my post was premature, and whether I should take it down. He replied that the post was indeed within that 24-hour period, but that there was no point in taking it down at that point.
Badger 6 and I both believed that our publication complied with the rules and with decency, and we both believed that we were simply honoring Maj. McClung. We were unaware of the regulation. I apologize for inadvertently publishing this prematurely, and I hope no unnecessary anguish was caused the family. Badger 6 posts about this here.
UPDATE x2: I received an e-mail from Maj. Megan McClung’s father. He said it would be okay for me to publish it on my site. In it, he said:
Patterico,
While you did violate the 24 hour rule, no harm was done as the Marines had already been here. Meg thought you did good work and had forwarded some of your articles to me. God bless you.
I told him that I was interested in doing a post that gave readers a better insight into Maj. McClung’s life. He replied that he is going to think about it, but he obviously has a lot on his mind right now.
I thank him very much for writing.
Say a prayer for her.
ahen (adff84) — 12/7/2006 @ 8:42 amOuch.
That brings it all home somehow.
aphrael (4db148) — 12/7/2006 @ 9:23 amEvery life is precious but some deaths hit home more than others. God bless MAJ McClung and her family.
DRJ (a41dd4) — 12/7/2006 @ 9:51 amyou know it’s a dangerous place when the press officers are getting killed too.
assistant devil's advocate (d30294) — 12/7/2006 @ 10:02 ami am sorry for the loss of major mcclung, who seemed to be one of the good guys and treated bloggers equally with msm.
in private industry, most “public affairs” people are lying spin doctors. wish i could trade one of them to get her back.
And when at length her life is run
Her work for home and Corps all done,
From all the souls that with her ran
And those who read her words that can,
Hear Thou in Heaven our woeful cry
And grant eternal life on High!
(very mangled version of a Navy Hymn verse.)
Requiescat in pace, Major; Semper Fi. Although I’ve never met you, the toast tonight will be “To Absent Friends”.
htom (412a17) — 12/7/2006 @ 10:34 amWhat to say?
paul from fl (001f65) — 12/7/2006 @ 11:12 amThank You Major, and Semper Fi.
…it makes the surrender monkeys on the ISG look like the has-been idiots that they are.
sam (387af6) — 12/7/2006 @ 11:21 amI’ll bet she was one heck of redheaded Devil Dog!
Semper Fi, Marine
Garvin (c49854) — 12/7/2006 @ 11:22 amSir,
I have checked the casulty reports on Defenselink.mil and the majors n
name has not been officially released, meaning that her family may not yet know of her death. Please, see fit to take down this post until proper notification has been made. I will advise Badger 6 as well. As the spouse of a soldier who served in OIF III I would be horified to learn of her death on a blog. Thank you. And GOD bless the major.
[The first question I asked Badger 6 was whether the family had been notified. He said they had. His post was already up. I’ll be very upset if that’s wrong, but that’s my information. I’m double-checking it now. — P]
Randy (b505d9) — 12/7/2006 @ 12:43 pmRiP Maj. McClung 🙁
Lord Nazh (285c90) — 12/7/2006 @ 1:29 pmWhy is it that the truly worthwhile seem so often to be the victims of senseless violence? The older I get, the more I ponder how unfair life can be.
Maj. McClung, RIP. I’m sure by now you are safe with your Creator. But oh my, we needed the likes of you here on earth just a little longer.
Flights of angels attend thee to thy rest, beloved daughter, sister and friend.
Gayle Miller (1288b1) — 12/7/2006 @ 1:37 pmNow might be a good time for me to reread Pericles Funeral Oration.
Richard Cook (09291b) — 12/7/2006 @ 1:40 pmI worked with Maj. McClure last spring when I embedded in Fallujah and Ramadi and she was in Fallujah. She came up to Ramadi and I worked directly with her there on my last trip in October. She was a hard-working and dedicated Marine and we’d been emailing back and forth several times a week since I left. We needed a lot more like her. Now we have one less. She also died with a very good man whom I quoted in my recent Weekly Standard article on Ramadi, but cannot be named pending next-of-kin notification.
Michael Fumento (2a4c66) — 12/7/2006 @ 2:08 pmYou Say
“God rest your soul Megan.
We will kill 10 of the basta*ds that did this in your memory!
an old exJarhead
Rod Stanton (4d95ee) — 12/7/2006 @ 2:23 pmThis is not clear. Was she in danger’s way because she was following up on the LAT’s phony report of an air strike? Did the false reporting of the Los Angeles Times cause her death?
Perfectsense (b6ec8c) — 12/7/2006 @ 3:07 pmRIP. And let’s get out of there.
nosh (ee9fe2) — 12/7/2006 @ 3:41 pmI’m very, very sorry to hear this. Thank you, Major McClure, for your brave service.
rightisright (2cbc9b) — 12/7/2006 @ 3:47 pmSir,
If you will please allow me a second post for clarification on this matter. There are guidelines regulating information about casualties coming out of warzones for our military, including telephone, email and blogs. They have been established to allow the families of the deceased private time to inform one another of the death of military members in theater. Brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins need to be notified by the initial contact (read:husband, wife, parent) BEFORE media notification is made. The policy is that no information will be given electronically from in-theater until 24 hours after the casualty notification has been released by the DOD. This allows families time to connect, grieve, and regain their balance in this world. 24 hours after the initial contact has been made the DOD releases the information on their website, defenselink.mil. “Badger 6” has violated this procedure. I sincerely doubt that he could know whether the initial contact had been made (from at least 8000 miles and 8 time zones away) or the family had been given a full day to deal with this tragedy.
I’m just a military spouse who could be adversly affected by the “new media’s” instant access, and am concerned about the ramifications of the instant information world we live in. I did not know the brave Marine referenced, but deeply appreciate her sacrifice. And may I suggest that in the future, before posting on the heroic sacrifices our military makes you check with the defenselink website to ensure that the proper time has been given to these families before publishing names.
Respectfully,
Randy
Scotia, NY
[I spoke to a press officer who told me about this same policy, but said that there was no point in taking down the post. I sincerely hope I have not inadvertently caused Maj. McClung’s family any unnecessary anguish, and I hope they recognize that my intent was to honor her. I understand the policy and the reasons for it and will observe it in the future. Thanks.– Patterico]
Randy (b505d9) — 12/7/2006 @ 3:51 pmLong life and good health to all of Megan McClung’s family and friends. May they be comforted soon and abundantly, after the loss they have suffered.
David Blue (de5481) — 12/7/2006 @ 4:13 pmRIP, Maj. McClung. Live on in great honor forever.
Buddy Larsen (fbb940) — 12/7/2006 @ 6:36 pmWhenever I read about one of our military men or women dying in service to our country, I always wonder if they and their families know how much they have meant to me and so many others. Or how grateful so many of us are.
These men and women represent what I should aim to achieve. I’m safe and free to go to school and work (thanks to them!). And always in the back of my mind, I know that I should model myself after them. Honor and duty are not dead. And they are not meaningless.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart – all of those who have served this country and given me and so many others gifts we can’t begin to appreciate fully. We don’t forget.
Deana (b1ff55) — 12/7/2006 @ 7:16 pmPeople complain about journalists not leaving the green zone. I think this tragic death reminds us of why.
actus (bb04e2) — 12/7/2006 @ 7:18 pmPatrick–
Has the LA Times ever responded to your questions about Solomon Moore’s less than credible postings about what’s going on in Ramadi?
I haven’t seen anything, but I’ve also been on and off the blogs for the last couple of weeks.
Mescalero (1afea2) — 12/7/2006 @ 8:29 pmNice Actus always class.
RIP Maj.
Mike (8c1f6b) — 12/7/2006 @ 9:47 pmRest in peace, Marine.
Bill Faith (3cc7e8) — 12/7/2006 @ 10:42 pmThis is not clear. Was she in danger’s way because she was following up on the LAT’s phony report of an air strike? Did the false reporting of the Los Angeles Times cause her death?
No. Badger said she was working on “our” story — meaning the story of soldiers in Ramadi. Not on my story.
Patterico (de0616) — 12/7/2006 @ 11:02 pmMaj. Megan McClung presented the flag to the family at my brother in laws funeral after he was killed in Iraq May 5 2005. We were both private security contractors in Baghdad. Megan worked for KBR when I first met her, and escorted her on a few missions through Baghdad. All 3 of us were Marines, I former, my brother in law was Reserve, and so was Megan. She was an excellent person and it will be a tragic loss to Corps, her family, and this Nation. SEMPER FI, Sgt Todd J. Vennette, and Maj. Megan McClung, your in a better place now, and I will see you again someday. Gordon Goolsby
Gordon Goolsby (b26a5b) — 12/7/2006 @ 11:17 pmWhether or not the brave Major was working on the air strike story, it’s just a matter of time before the MSM is called to task, and gets sued, for not reporting ALL the news, for spinning the news, for deliberately misleading the public, for downplaying the news, etc., and they will have only themselves to blame.
rightisright (2cbc9b) — 12/8/2006 @ 12:37 amYou’re a class act, Pat. (And, since I’ve been critical of some things you’ve said, I should probably add that I intend no sarcasm whatsoever.)
RIP, Major McClung; thank you for your service.
Joel Rosenberg (677e59) — 12/8/2006 @ 6:26 amBadger 6 today on MAJ McClung:
http://badgersforward.blogspot.com/
steve (96798b) — 12/8/2006 @ 6:35 amObviously ACTUS was never in the service much less the Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis, Major, and may God rest your soul. Most of all; Thank You.
Ropeboy (c77ffa) — 12/8/2006 @ 6:40 am“People complain about journalists not leaving the green zone. I think this tragic death reminds us of why.” -Actus
This is a sad and tragic death, (as they all are). Though I have no concern for media officials safety, as most of the time they make matters worse. I realize journalists have a job to due, but honestly they don’t have a place outside this “green zone.” The marines have a tough job ahead of them, and its made tougher by false and poor reporting. I hope MAJ McClung is in a more peaceful place right now.
G (722480) — 12/8/2006 @ 7:05 amActus- Like a teacher in the Summer; No class.
Nikko (b7e5f1) — 12/8/2006 @ 8:08 amTake the post down until the press release.
Wesson (c20d28) — 12/8/2006 @ 12:33 pmhttp://www.defenselink.mil/releases/
Who Is In Denial? (Updated — al-AP Counterattacks)…
CENTCOM says AP’s Iraqi police source isn’t Iraqi police — Part 11 — Continued from this post.AP: Still not off the hook; Plus: The QuestionMichelle Malkin Who is Jamil Hussein? is becoming the new Who is John Galt?–a blogospheric refrain…
Bill's Bites (72c8fd) — 12/8/2006 @ 3:36 pmIt’s obvious this was truly a stand-up marine. My heart goes out for her and for her family.
mary chong (6d1a3c) — 12/9/2006 @ 2:19 pmWhen the roll is called, she’ll be recognized.
gypsy (dbc1c6) — 12/9/2006 @ 5:13 pmMy regrets to her family.
I shudder to think/accept that Megan is gone. I am so sorry. There were 11 women, I think, graduated together from college and decided to go to the Marine Corps for our service to country. Non Sibi Sed Patriae. I wonder where we all are now… I shudder to think that Megan is gone. I am so sorry.
Emily (cf20c7) — 12/10/2006 @ 9:39 amAnd to think, Nancy Olson is out there somewhere in PR too. Be safe. Take care and if you see this… I hope to get back in contact with you soon. Sincerely, Emily
[…] After publishing my post about the death of Ramadi press officer Maj. Megan McClung, I learned to my dismay that I had inadvertently violated a military rule in releasing the information as early as I did. (I discuss how this happened in an update to that earlier post.) […]
Patterico’s Pontifications » Maj. McClung’s Father Writes (421107) — 12/10/2006 @ 9:48 amFor Megan’s family,
Susie (a90377) — 12/10/2006 @ 7:54 pmThe entire Marine triathlon community is numb at the news of Megan’s death. I’ve known her since 2000. She is already missed by us all. Our thoughts are with you. Susie G
SusieQUSMC@aol.com
New Milblog: Badgers Forward…
At least it’s new to me. It looks like Badger 6 a commander of an Army Reserve Engineer Company started blogging this past July just before his unit was deployed to Iraq.
The Real Ugly American.com (4e8dcb) — 12/11/2006 @ 8:00 amThis is the post that brought his blog to my attention:
Right now I donR…
I knew Maj. McClung. At the time, in the late 1990’s, she was Maj. Mason and stationed at Parris Island as their PAO. We got to know each other through the Tuesday night bike rides from the local bicycle shop in Beaufort. When Megan started riding with us, she was the only woman in our group, and did a fine job of holding her own. She was interested in competing in triathlons, and before long, she was making a name for herself in that sport. Megan was never one to back down from a challenge, whether athletic or work related. On top of that, she always had an upbeat attitude, a pleasant way about her, and a quick wit.
Not sure how many of you know about this, but Megan was responsible for organizing the Marine Corps Marathon Iraq
Not only did Megan organize the race, she finished second in it.
I miss her already.
Semper Fi, Megan
Maurice Ungaro (cb41aa) — 12/11/2006 @ 5:25 pmCorrection, I meant to write that when Megan was at P.I., she was Lt. Mason.
Maurice Ungaro (cb41aa) — 12/11/2006 @ 5:38 pmI met Megan when we were kids, competing gymnasts, best friends. I can’t believe she is gone. I want to thank everyone who is blogging about her right now and let you all know that your shared memories of her are a great comfort. I can see that she affected the rest of the world the same way she affected me. Thank you for lifting her up. I love you, Meg.
Paige Mead (b0c73b) — 12/11/2006 @ 9:41 pmBest friends since high school 1987, Megan and I were two peas in a pod. We kept in contact and were supposed to see one another again in this month. I am deeply saddened and shocked at our loss of such an OUTSTANDING MARINE. She deserves our recognition and for us to keep her in our thoughts and prayers. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
I love you Megan.
Julie Stevenson
Julie Stevenson (b22c1a) — 12/12/2006 @ 2:39 pmAnyone who wants to chat about Megan is welcome to email me at muttmanners@cox.net
Julie Stevenson (b22c1a) — 12/12/2006 @ 2:46 pmI’m not sure what to write here…
I was scheduled to go to Iraq in Janurary-I’m a broadcaster in the Air Force my job is to tell the military’s story and I work for people like Maj McClung. My deployment has been cancelled, but my mind hasn’t caught up with that yet… When we were told yesterday that a member of our Public Affairs team died I kept thinking it was the broadcaster I am to replace if anything happens to him- dear God keep him and every military member downrange safe. But it wasn’t that broadcaster- it was Maj McClung.
Our crew here in Germany had worked closely with her this month. She had helped us with news of our Soldiers currently downrange and on December 5th coordinated the delivery to us of a videotape showing service members in Ramadi lighting a holiday tree downrange. We used that video of those Soldiers downrange a day later and surprised their families here in Germany by showing on a big screen TV at one of our local tree lighting ceremonies.
Our radio department had e-mailed her two weeks ago to coordinate holiday greetings for our radio shows from service members downrange. There was no reply. And now we know why.
God bless our country and comfort your soul Maj McClung. I pray our leaders develope the wisdom and insight needed to bring our fathers, brothers, unckles, aunts, mothers, and sisters home safe SOON.
JulieAnna C. (534d19) — 12/13/2006 @ 12:02 amYou always think you will see them again here on earth…rest in peace, your death was not in vain.
Pinto (650b63) — 12/13/2006 @ 7:36 amS/F
-P
I had the opportunity to meet and work with Megan in Baghdad in the summer of 2004.
She was a rare person and the world is a lessor place without her smile. She will be missed by all that she touched.
Semper Fi Megan
Andy W (b104d4) — 12/14/2006 @ 5:47 amJust meeting you insprired me to get back out there and hit the roads again. Rest in peace sister of Marines. It’s your turn to gaurd the streets on Heavan’s scenes. “Semper Fidelis”
JM (425150) — 12/14/2006 @ 11:26 amI heard about Megan’s death a few minutes ago. Reading the heartfelt comments of those who knew her — or those who merely served at the same time — have impacted me deeply. I remain in unpayable debt to those who serve so that I remain a free man in the USA. We submarine Cold Warriors had it easy compared to what those serving are undergoing, amidst a shameful lack of support from those enjoying freedom day after day. The MSM should be ashamed. Free people will miss people like Megan. Semper fi, and rest with God!
Bob Fritz, Class of '71 (49b87b) — 12/14/2006 @ 6:41 pmJust heard the very sad news. For Megan’s family… I met Megan (Mason at the time) in 2000 while I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. She was needless to say, bubbly, full of life and energy. Even more interesting was the her reaction when she saw my triathlon bike resting in the corner. Her eyes lit up and she asked me if “I Tri?” Of course the answer was yes and the next thing I know over the next two years Megan and I went on many training rides where to be perfectly honest, she dragged me around with her bike pump! I also remember her telling me she was entering the lottery for IronMan Hawaii and how she hoped she would get a slot. Well, lo and behold about one month later, who comes into my office screaming and waving IM Hawaii confirmation. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so happy…ever. One lasting and perhaps final memory was when Megan left for IM Hawaii. As fate would have it I was out on a training ride and who goes blowing by me, none other than Megan in her grafitti laden car, bike packed, beeping the horn at me as she drove by. I wished her luck then as I do now. She was a wonderful person, great friend and loyal to the end. Know that she made a lasting impression on all whom she encountered. She goes with God and there is no doubt in my mind, she is now running the “Big Tri” up in the sky. God Bless you Megan, I’m going to miss you. Semper Fi.
Tim Devin, LtCol, USMC (ret) (02af08) — 12/15/2006 @ 8:36 amFor sometime there will be a lump in my throat. Walking down the halls of our building won’t be the same. Running for that matter won’t be the same. I had the privilege to call Major Megan McClung a friend, running motivator and compassionate listener. She was an amazing person with talent, skill and a good heart. Would push you to pass her in any race and would turn around to keep you going. By chance, we were always arm and arm, stride and stride together while racing in Fallujah. I knew I was doing well if I could hear her steps behind me, or if she was right in front of me. Now I’ll have to image her there along side of me, pushing me like always, smiling like she did the best and being the leader that she was. Rest in peace my dear Major; my heart will have a void for sometime indeed. I pray for you and your kind soul, and pray for the strength of your family and all that you touched in life.
J.M. HALL (f96adf) — 12/15/2006 @ 8:47 am[…] This is a worthwhile link to follow. Michelle Malkin has the story of three fallen warriors in Iraq, all due to an IED explosion. All were recently in the news, either on Patterico’s site or Michael Fumento’s blog, which has an excellent memorial piece. […]
andreas04: close to attraction (b6f188) — 12/16/2006 @ 7:04 amI remember Major McClung from my time in Al Fallujah with the IMEF/NINTH NCR. She was a class act and very well respected. I distinctly remember the 5K that was held on the Fourth of July. She gave a brief talk at the end of it about the Marine Corps Marathon that was going to be held in Iraq and simulcast with the marathon in DC. She always brought a smile to my face when I saw her because she reminded me of my own sister who has red hair and is also a dedicated runner. I was crushed when I learned today of her death.
My condolences to her family and fellow Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen still in Iraq–I know this loss has hit them all hard.
SEMPER FI Major McClung, you were one of the best.
Raymond S. Alley
Raymond S. Alley (2d8a3e) — 12/21/2006 @ 3:08 pmCPO, US NAVY
Megan was a childhood friend that I competed with in gymnastics. She was always a friend you could count on. She befriended me when I was the new kid and made me feel part of a family. Her smile will remain in my heart forever. Her zest for life will be something I will strive for the rest of mine. Megan, you are with the angels and you will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace.
Heather (aaefa5) — 12/26/2006 @ 12:30 pmFrom Italy sometimes I read some pages on http://www.albertarose.com/fallen/ and I am always impressed by faces, names and circumstances of fallen Allied troops in Iraq, also a little number of italians.
The kind smile of Maj. Mc Clung, claims with more and more evidence the useless of strategies and tactis of allied troops over there, managing themselves like “life prize” in a sort of target-shooting race.
Bush and Blair sadly discovered “more difficulties than forecast” then more than half of european people would exactly predict THIS future in 2003.
Rest in peace MAJ. McClung
Piero Andrea Breda - Italy (49858e) — 12/28/2006 @ 7:09 amyour sacrifice was not in vain, thanks to your work U.S.A. also, after Europe, is becoming aware that not the goal of this war was wrong, but the way it was ( repeat was) managed by the “competence” of persons like Mr. Donald Rumsfeld and Mr. Paul Bremer.
Megan,
I respect you greatly because of your insistence of getting you and your military combat camera and reports out with the troops.
I talked with you just the day or days before this happened and I miss you every day, as these others have. You are a good friend; I wish every day that it were me and not you.
I know you are in a better place and are amongst friends, this is the only thing that gives me comfort.
Jeff
Jeff (14aa95) — 2/23/2007 @ 7:19 pmWhat a horrible loss… she was a very very cute, intelligent, personable, cheerful person. what a tragedy… kinda like someone killing a warrior version of a carebear! who would do such a thing…
tewkewl (eef8fc) — 4/15/2007 @ 10:42 pmI met Megan (then plebe McClung) at Admiral Farragut Academy, as she was the first female cadet at the (traditionally) all boys naval school in NJ. She would do sommersaults to get to formation…. no kidding… she would show off doing round-offs on her way to fall in. She was such a live wire, so full of life and energy. I watched and kept in touch as she entered the Naval Academy (and rocked them too)… I was at her wedding in Boston…. we kept touch randomly for years and lost touch a few years ago. My family asks about her still to this day… and last week my father asked how she was. I googled her hoping to reconnect only to find out she made another “female first” being the first female killed in action. I liked it better when she was the first female to beat guys at a race, or beat guys at inspection or at anything but dying.
joeG (7f158d) — 8/12/2007 @ 10:13 amMegan… I will always remember youas a great friend, a shining example of how to live life fully.
RIP Megan Malia McClung…..You are missed by many and loved by more!
-your friend joeG
p.s. I trust you did a HUGE backflip up to the pearly gates and asked saint peter, “Maj. McClung reporting for duty sir, permission to enter?” GRANTED!
It has been year now and I strongly appreciate all of my so call friends for replying your own thoughts about Major. However, Bear in mind, that there’s always someone in your organization who could be responsible for her death.
That would be any men. Justice will not be served unitil someone from these categories speaks out for themselves or their trial. Up till days, I’ve stayed in the past, taking care of her sprit in my thoughts and in my powers and it is very painful feel her inside. She’s too pricelss and that’s what I’ve been doing, picking up the remains of her and carrying it until I die either way,
God bless you all!!!!
Jeffrey
Jeffrey (150182) — 2/18/2008 @ 1:00 am