Memorial day is about remembrance and honoring those that sacrificed everything to keep us here at home safe.
Today is about you Hilda Clayton 🙏🇺🇸
- It was June 2013 and I had just rotated back home from my 7 month deployment in Afghanistan with 75th Ranger Regiment
- COMCAM units are small, only about 110 soldiers at 55th Signal Company around that time
COMCAM = Combat Camera
- When you rotate out of a deployment, a team will come in and replace yours
- Hilda and her squad were up next, different areas, same mission, document everything so battlefield commanders can make on the ground decisions
- She was documenting a live-fire training exercise on July 2, 2013 with the local afghan army
- A mortar got jammed in the tube and exploded
- The blast killed 5 people, included Hilda
- She was the first and last Combat Photographer and Videographer to die in Afghanistan
- The image attached was unfortunately the last photo she took and it documents her last moments with us
Hilda Clayton was only 22 years old. She had just begun serving her country, growing into her adult life and all of it was tragically cut short.
I'll never forget the conversations we had or the time we shared. You were full of joy and always had a smile on your face, no matter what. I wear your KIA bracelet everyday to honor your selfless act of heroism and to make sure I never forget to pray for your family.
Rest easy, Hilda Clayton 🙏