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Global War on Terror - AfghanistanUS Army
Special Operations Command |
Son of Bruce and Connie Palmrose of Wray. Husband of Lacy Palmrose.
Page 6 ---- The Wray Gazette, September 19, 2007
Clay Palmrose dies from accident Sept. 7
Clayton Eugene Palmrose was born to Bruce and Connie Palmrose on a clear and cool night, Jan. 6, 1981 at the Wray Community District Hospital. He weighed almost ten pounds and when his mother dressed him to go home, the pants of his outfit were too big but the vest would not button across his chest. Even then he had a big chest and a big heart.
Clay grew up in Wray. The first 18 years of his life were spent in the same house. He was baptized and active in the First Presbyterian Church, joining the church when he was 15.
Clay attended K through 12th grade in the Wray school system, graduating in 1999. He played sports all through school, especially enjoying swim team in the summer, football in the fail and skiing in the winter. He was active in student life including scouting, band and drama and many of his classmates remember him as witty and dauntless.
Clay held several jobs in the Wray area. He worked at the Cliff Theatre, Evans family ranch near Haigler, NE, for Wray Lumber Company, Jim Lengel and at Cherry Creek Marina in Denver.
Clay attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO for the first time the summer following eighth grade. After high school, he returned to Wentworth on an ROTC scholarship for junior college. He then transferred to Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg to finish his Bachelors degree. He graduated with a BA in General Recreation in the fail of 2003 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Later that fall, he went to Military intelligence Officer Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ, before being assigned to 1st Battalion (Desert Eagles), 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, NC.
While in college in Warrensburg, Clay met and fell in love with Lacey Noland. They were engaged in the summer of 2004 and were married on the beach of St. Lucia, May 18, 2005. They made their home in Fayetteville, NC with their daughter, Brea.
Clay was deployed to Afghanistan three times, first in May of 2004 then June of 2005 and again in August of 2006. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in May of 2005 and later promoted to Captain in February of 2007. After three years in the Military Intelligence community, Clay was accepted to Special Forces Training. He was to leave for a rigorous selection process in September of this year. He had been training all summer to get in top shape for the selection and at the time of the accident, was in the best physical condition of his life,
Over Labor Day weekend, Clay traveled to Warrensburg, MO for a reunion with his friends from college. He was in an accident, Sept. 2 where he sustained multiple skull fractures and his brain was badly bruised. He lived for five days before the injuries took his life. His wife, Lacey decided to donate his organs and now there are several people around the country whose lives Clay helped to save.
Clay was a gentle giant. He loved children and animals and they loved him. Even small children were seldom frightened by his size. They could see his tender heart shining through his big exterior. Clay often brought people together. He had more close friends in his short life than most people ever have.
Clay is survived by his wife, Lacey, daughter, Brea, parents, Bruce and Connie, sister, Sarah, many close relatives in his family and his wife's family as well, a host of great friends and a Dalmatian dog, Dottie.
A Worship Service of Witness to the Resurrection was held Sept. 15 at the First Presbyterian Church in Wray. Reverend Jennifer E. Grantham and Reverend Stephen T. Wynkoop with Daniel Prentice officiated. Organist, Nancy Entzel and pianist, Gail Fritzler provided music. A special duet, "Here I Am, Lord", was sung by Bethany Prentice and Elisia Harvey. Escorts were Scott Harris, Captain Robert West, Captain Osceola Evans, Lieutenant Cullen Brokaw, Josh Noland, Captain Jason Richey, Captain T. Casey McCausland and Sergeant First Class Anthony Ceringlia.
Interment was at Grandview Cemetery with military honors by Fort Carson Honor Guard and flag presentations by Captain T. Casey McCausland and Lieutenant Cullen Brokaw.
The Meritorious Service Medal was awarded to Captain Clayton E. Palmrose (posthumously) by his Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mark L. Miller and Captain Osceola Evans. The citation data reads, in part, "As the Military Intelligence Detachment Commander, CPT Palmrose provided operational level signals intelligence, counter-intelligence and human intelligence to Special Operations Task Force 31 units as they conducted 1,456 combat patrols and participated in the two largest NATO-led combat operations in history. CPT Palmrose volunteered to lead a Special Operations Team in combat operations in one of the most volatile provinces in Afghanistan, Uruzgan. CPT Palmrose volunteered for this duty after Special Operations Team-Alpha 303 hit an Improvised Explosive Device which left the team non-mission capable. CPT Palmrose's leadership was critical during the team's conduct of more than 40 combat patrols where they provided critical operational and tactical level intelligence to SOTF 31 and its subordinate units."Favored scripture passage of the 1st Battalion (Desert Eagles), 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?
And I said, "Here I am. Send me!"
Isaiah 8:8Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
US Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office, Fort Bragg
Sep
7, 2007 Biographical Sketch.
Capt. Clayton E. Palmrose was a military intelligence officer assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
He died Sep. 7, 2007, from injuries sustained in a Sep. 2 vehicle related accident while on leave in Warrensburg, Mo.
Palmrose was born Jan. 6, 1981, in Colo. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Army through Central Missouri State University’s Reserve Officers Training Command (ROTC) program and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation in 2003.
He later attended Military Intelligence Officer Basic Training in 2004 before being assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 3rd SFG(A) as the assistant military intelligence officer. Palmrose would go on to serve as the battalion’s military intelligence detachment commander.
He had recently finished his third tour of duty in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force –Afghanistan.
Palmrose’s military education includes the Basic Airborne Course and the Military Intelligence Officers Basic Course.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.
Palmrose is survived by his wife, Lacy and their stepdaughter, Brea of Fayetteville, N.C.; and parents Bruce and Connie of Wray, Colo.
(LCZ note: The Meritorious Service Medal was awarded posthumously.)
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