American Hero: Maj. Megan McClung

The Marine Corps has confirmed that Major Megan McClung, 34, a Public Affairs Officer with the I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group at Camp Pendleton, has been killed by a roadside bomb in Ramadi, Iraq.

She is the highest-ranking female service member killed in action since the start of the war. She was killed by the same roadside bomb that killed Capt. Travis Patriquin and Spc4 Vincent Pomante.

From The North County Times:

"She was a Marine's Marine and an outstanding public affairs officer," Col. Darcy Kauer, commanding officer at the I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group at Camp Pendleton said in an e-mail provided to the North County Times. "She was a great friend to all who served with her. Her death has shocked and saddened all who knew her. She will be deeply missed."

McClung was reportedly working with a journalist on a story in downtown Ramadi when the bomb was triggered.

[...]

Lt. Col. Bran F. Salas, a public affairs officer with the Multi-National Force-West in Iraq, told the North County Times in an e-mail that McClung was devoted to helping the media cover the conflict.

"She was an advocate of media coverage of military operations," he wrote. "While in Iraq, she managed the media embed program, developed public affairs plans for operations and found time to organize the Marine Corps Marathon."

[...]

In a November story in The Times of London, England, noted that McClung had "earned the respect of her male colleagues by outrunning them and organizing a base marathon." The marathon she helped organize was named the "Marine Corps Marathon (Forward)" and was conducted at the U.S. base at Al Asad in memory of U.S. service personnel killed in the war.

Patterico writes about the Major here and here. Michael Fumento writes about her here.

What a wonderful young woman and Marine. Truly a tragic loss for all of us.

Godspeed, Major.

Related post: CTT: American Hero: Capt. Travis Patriquin

***UPDATED 12/12/06***: Hot Air has just posted a video tribute.

Michael Fumento writes that Major McClung will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, December 19th, 0830 hours.

***UPDATED***: Michael Fumento covers her funeral.