Almost a week after Marine Lance Corporal Philip Clark was killed in Afghanistan, today the department of defense has made its formal announcement of his death.
Clark was killed Tuesday morning, after he was hit with shrapnel while on patrol in Marjah.
As funeral arrangements are being made, the reality of Clark's death is truly hitting family and friends.
"He always wanted everyone to smile, he always had a smile" said Stephanie Taylor, who met Clark when he moved next door almost 9 years ago. Clark quickly became the brother Taylor never had. "I was protective over him, about a lot of stuff," said Taylor, "he would tell me secrets and I didn't keep them very well from his dad."
When Clark enlisted in the Marines in 2008, Taylor says she wouldn't stand in his way.
"I knew that ever since he was a little kid, this is something he always wanted to do, it was his dream to be a marine" she added.
"This young man, he was 19 years old you know, and it's a terrible loss to the family to the community and to the military" said Richard Rubanick, a member of the local military support group.