Spc Zachary Ryan Clouser

Dover—Specialist Zachary Ryan Clouser, 19, was killed in action July 18, 2007 in Iraqi. He was the son of father, Kevin Clouser and step mother Ginger Asper-Clouser of West York and, mother, Debra Etheridge and step father, Ronald Etheridge of Dover. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, August 11, 2007 at Bible Baptist Church, 4190 Susquehanna Trail-North, York, with Pastor Kevin E. Trout officiating. Following the service a celebration of life tribute will be held in the church's gymnasium. A visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, at the church. Heffner Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc, 1551 Kenneth Rd, York is in charge of arrangements. Specialist Zachary Ryan Clouser was born on August 6, 1987 in York, He graduated from Dover Area High School in 2005 and enlisted in the United States Army on September 27, 2005. He completed One Station Unit Training as an 11B Infantryman assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 54th Infantry at Ft. Benning, Georgia. On February 1, 2006, he was assigned to 1st Platoon, "Apache" Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry "Blue Spaders" in Schweinfurt, Germany as a M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Driver. SPC Clouser deployed August 6, 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. He participated in numerous combat patrols in Northeast Baghdad and Adhamiyah, Iraqi in support of Operation Together Forward II and the Baghdad Security Plan where he served as both his platoon Sergeant's M1151 Up-Armor HMMWV Machine Gunner and M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Gunner. SPC Clouser was a integral part of 1st Platoon "Death Dealers". He was always dedicated to mission accomplishment and displayed unwavering courage and commitment to his fellow Soldiers, Leaders, and the United States Army. SPC Clouser's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (Posthumous), Purple Heart (Posthumous), Army Commendation Medal, National, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2, and the Combat Infantryman Badge (Posthumous). SPC Clouser was very athletic growing up and in high school, he loved baseball, basketball, football, bowling and precision archery and was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was also a member of several local car clubs. In addition to his parents, SPC Clouser is also survived by his siblings, Megan Williams and husband Shawn, Ronald Etheridge Jr, Matthew Asper, Shaleana Etheridge, Sean Etheridge and Zachary Asper, paternal grandparents, David and Lucille Clouser, nieces and nephews, Kaile Oyler, Adriel Etheridge, Chaz Etheridge, Trinity Warren, Damen Etheridge and Shawn Williams Jr. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Franklin and Esther Turner. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Fisherhouse at www.fisherhouse.org or Help America Foundation at www.helpamericafoundation.org, Support 4 Our Troops at 6 Elmwood Blvd, York, Pa 17403, www.support4ourtroops.org