Alabama loses a hero

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chief Warrant Officer Clark’s loved ones:

A Newton soldier killed in Iraq last week will be laid to rest Monday at Sunset Memorial Park in Dothan.

CW3 Donald Clark, 37, was killed in action when his OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter went down on Nov. 15 in the eastern part of Mosul, Iraq.

Final arrangements were still being worked out Friday, but family members say preliminary plans have Clark’s body being flown to the cemetery via a Huey helicopter, with a horsedrawn caisson carrying the casket to the graveside. Organizers were also hoping to arrange for a Kiowa flyover.

Clark was born in Boardman, Ohio, but has lived in Newton for several years with his wife, Jamie.

The funeral is set for 3 p.m. The family requests that donations be made to the Donald V. Clark Memorial Fund at Army Aviation Federal Credit Union in lieu of flowers.

Also killed in the accident was Army Chief Warrant Officer Christian P. Humphreys, 28, of Fallon, Nev.

A full obituary can be found inside today’s Dothan Eagle.