AP photo: A Marine carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Lance Cpl. Peter J. Clore Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at Dover Air Force Base.
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The Karzai Ultimatum Story is entering national consciousness with only three parts:
1) US Air Strike on Saturday May 28 Kills Afghan Women and Children;
2) Karzai Delivers Ultimatum on US Air Strikes
3) ISAF Apologizes.
There is another part, an all-important prequel: The Marine who was killed by small arms fire, also on Saturday May 28. Neither Karzai, nor, come to think of it, ISAF are paying much attention to him. Turns out the 23-year-old Ohio native was a dog handler, just six weeks in Afghanistan, who was leading a patrol to clear IEDs, making way for still more patrols, just the way Gen. Petraeus likes them. After the Lance Cpl. was hit, his fellow Marines pursued five attackers who took refuge in a compound. There, they continued to fire at the Marines. At some point -- details aren't just sketchy, they're unavailable -- the Marines called in an airstrike on the building the militants were in. Which is where the main Karzai/ISAF narrative begins. What fails to concern ISAF is that Karzai is demanding, in effect, a free-fire zone for insurgents where US forces become sitting ducks Amid the diplomatic furor, meanwhile, the young Lance Corporals's death was very much in passing.
Not, however, in New Philadelphia, Ohio, population 12,000, where this Marine was from.
From the Canton Times Reporter:
New Philadelphia (Ohio) -- Marine Lance Corporal Peter Clore, 23, of New Philadelphia, who died Saturday while on duty in Afghanistan, is remembered as a young man with a strong faith and a commitment to his country and family.
He is a son of Chris and Cliff Clore, and has two younger brothers and a sister. A 2006 graduate of Tuscarawas Central Catholic High in New Philadelphia, Clore visited there shortly before his deployment, TCC Principal Dave DiDonato said. At a recent assembly, students and staff prayed for his safety in Afghanistan.
According to a news release, Clore was a dog handler and leading a unit in seeking out improvised explosive devices when he was shot by small-arms fire. The Clores were notified Saturday morning that their son was pronounced dead about 12 a.m.
“I can’t believe it. He was a great kid,” DiDonato said.
“He was a friend to everybody, and friendly to everyone. He’s going to be really missed.”
DiDonato said Clore is expected to be remembered today at commencement in Tuscarawas Central Catholic High, where, as a senior, he received a $1,000 scholarship from the Carl Stoller American Legion Post in New Philadelphia. Clore’s brother, George, is a 2009 graduate and sister, Sarah, is a junior.
A dedicated volunteer at his parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Philadelphia, he frequently was an altar server at funerals and was active in the youth ministry. His senior year, he won the Bishop Herrmann Service Award for outstanding service to school and community and was recognized as a church usher, Eucharistic minister, teen choir member and vacation Bible school instructor. He volunteered with the Special Olympics and at Central Catholic earned a district championship in wrestling at 112 pounds.
After high school, he studied for a time at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus and later joined the Marines.
Arrangements are pending with the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory in New Philadelphia.
Marine Lance Corporal Peter Clore, 1988-2011