A military spouse witnessed the unimaginable over Skype early this week – the death of her husband downrange.
According to a family statement, Susan Orellana-Clark saw her husband, Capt. Bruce Kevin Clark, die May 1 during one of their regular Skype dates. The statement from this story:
“Bruce’s wife tragically witnessed her husband’s death during one of their regular Skype video chats,” the statement said. “At the time of the incident, the family was hoping for a rescue and miracle, but later learned that it was not to be,” according to the family’s statement. “Although the circumstances were unimaginable, Bruce’s wife and extended family will be forever thankful that he and his wife were together in his last moments.”
I cannot fathom the pain this family, including their two children, must be experiencing right now. I imagine the horrible, gut wrenching feeling she must be experiencing, and I know my thoughts are nowhere near her reality.
And my heart breaks for her. I want to sit and hold this woman until she knows that the whole military spouse community is grieving with her – just like we grieve with any war widow, no matter what the circumstance.
Capt. Clark was a medic working in Southern Afghanistan at the time of his death. We don’t know the circumstances of how he died – whether by enemy strike, accident or otherwise.
While the Department of Defense did release a statement May 2 announcing Capt. Clark’s death, they did not include any details on what happened – typical when the exact events are under investigation as they are with incident.
But it doesn’t matter. That’s not what this is about right now.
We all know that Skype gives us a coveted window into the world in which our spouses live while deployed and an invaluable connection with their faces. But we also know that technology it isn’t always a blessing … and usually for reasons that are nowhere near the one illustrated by this tragic event.
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Comments
Oh, my goodness. I had not heard about this and it literally made me lose my breath.
I cannot imagine. I simply cannot imagine.
My thoughts & prayers are with the family.
I agree…I think my heart just seized up and stopped for a second…
I.cannot imagine what she and her family are going through. This is tragic and I feel for her she needs to know all of us in the military family are witb her and will help her through this awful experience. My thoughts are with you and so are my prayers
Oh – My God! This is so sad…
My thoughts and prayers are with Susan and her family. I just want to hug and cry with her, from one fellow spouse to another
I can re-live the time that a city crew drove into my driveway one early deployment morning and my daughter came into the kitchen to tell me someone was in the driveway. I immediately ran to the front window thinking the worst… still have nightmares and it wasn't even the real deal, I can't imagine this…
I pray for Susan and her family… Blessing and curse rolled into one for sure! May God hold her and protect her as she learns to cope with her loss. May wonderful family memories fill her dreams and not this last skype call…. Praying for strength and comfort for the entire family and her compassion team. And most of all, Thanking them for their service and sacrifice.
CPT Clark, has received a "Higher Assignment up in Heaven tending to thosw who need his help.
May CPT Clark rest in peace, Amen.
May God hold and protect his family in the future.
Pleas read" There Really is a Heaven" . This is a story about a 3 yr. old boy that made that trip and came back to literally blow his pastor father and mother mind away. I paid 13.?? for it and it is a very easy read. If you have ant doubt about Heaven , God, Jesus,or angels
this should clear it up.
I am floored. I can't imagine the heartache this family is suffering. My thoughts and prayers are with them. May God be with them in this time of need.
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of CPT Clark. I deeply feel for his wife and wish I could ease her pain, but I know I cannot…
The family has my prayers.
Oh god…. The tittle just made my cry. I definetly could not handle the story. I am truly sorry for Susan and her family. May god be with you…
Oh my god my heart stop beating and i got goose bumps, when i saw the words,my deepest condolences to the family and may they get all the support they need…
Unbelievable. At least she got to see him one last time though. If it is possible to have a silver lining in this cloud, that would be it.
This is unbelievable. Talk about unintended consequences. How tragic! My heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family.
May I say to the spouse that she is brave & as hard as that was she probably would not have changed it. Like Not being able to see her husband before he GAVE his life away. You & family are in my prayers. May God give u strength for the future. God bless you with His Peace that we cannot explain nor comprehend
Stand Down Capt. Bruce Kevin Clark & May You Rest In Peace Brother
CPT Clark was an ICU nurse. He was a phenomenal nurse and the love that he and Susan had was captivating…and their girls are precious. God has Susan and the girls so close….sometimes I think she is stronger than some of us in the hospital, but his legacy of care and compassion in and out of uniform will continue. He was that one guy you can’t help but to love. Susan welcomed Bruce home yesterday at Dover and she still had the strength to put on her fb that she was proud to be the army wife. God bless you guys. I care for many wounded warriors in the icu in my lifetime and I am in awe….hats off to you…please continue to pray for Susan and the girls and all who loved cpt Clark
My God! This is so very sad & heart-wrenching. Praying for her & the fam. Thank you Captain Clark for your service to our country. *Hand Salute*
As an Army wife and mother with two loved ones in Afghanistan, a little less sensationalism and a bit more real information would be appreciated. We can get sensationalism from the regular news outlets (or avoid it in my case), I would appreciate real coverage from Military.com. Please don't feed into our worst fears.
Thanks Cheryl for your comment. Please know that we are closely following this situation and the moment we have more information we will report it. As it stands we have shared all that is publicly available. As a military spouse myself I know — and live! — that this is very real fear. It's important, however, that we talk about this stuff if for no other reason than to figure out a way to make that fear never be realized by anyone ever again.
Rest in eternal peace CPT. Clark. I cannot think of anything more horrible than what his wife saw. Please post any info on scholarship funds for his daughters, or a fund to help the family.
Prayers for this family during this most difficult time in their life.
Oh my god that is not a site to see but my prayers go out to the wife n family may the good lord keep you all safe
Sorry, stupid phone.
My thoughts and prayers are with this family. What a horrible thing to have to witness.
This story is so devastating. I will be praying for this woman and her family. I cannot even imagine the horror…My husband is in Afghanistan right now and reading this instantly terrified me.
Wow for a minute I could not believe what I was reading my thoughts and prayers go out to the family CPT.Clark rest in peace I salute you thank you for your service
My prayers and condolences go out to Cpt Clark and the rest of his family. I have served two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. I can only imagine the pain and anguish his family is feeling right now. God Bless his family and may his soul rest in peace. Hoooah Sir. Job well done.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time, my son has been deployed to Iraq as a Combat Engineer, he has been home only a year and will now be deployed to Afghanistan in November, I am so thankful for your husbands sacrifice for our freedom.
"Bruce’s wife and extended family will be forever thankful that he and his wife were together in his last moments.”
If he had to die I am glad they were communicating when it happened. Closure is very important in life.
Praying for his wife and two children, so tragic. My heart is so very heavy for this family.. I’m an Army Mom and my heart is aching for his parents and siblings as well. A mother’s loss of her son, his dad & siblings I send prayers of healing and comfort. My heart and prayers to his wife, I pray that she feels our love around her. I pray that God gives her and the kids strength to heal. Thank you for your service, courage and sacrifice….you will always be in our hearts. God bless.. RIP<3
My thoughts and prayers goes out to Cpt Clark wife, kids and family.My husband is serving in Afghanistan now.God will give you the strength you need every day.God Bless Cpt Clark wife and kids.
I was working last night in the ER when I overheard a patient talking about this and I was floored. My son is in Afghanistan right now and I pray for all the brave men and women serving. My prayers for this family and what they must be going through.
I asm a retired N.G. soldier, I knew Bruce Jr and Bruce Sr. having worked with both at the Addison, Mi F.D. Bruce Sr. was Chief and Bruce Jr. was a resscue/paramedic. The world will suffer from the loss of Bruce Jr. My heart and my family's heart are saddened by this tragety. Will be awaiting funeral arrangements. May God Bless All.
Oh my goodness! This made me cry…I am SO sorry for this family's loss…My sincerest condolences to them. I can not imagine the heartache, but I am so happy they at least were 'together" when he passed. My prayers are with you.
I cannot add more. How could this have happened? My heart is aching more today than before. We love you all.
Thanks absolutely breaks my heart. I am just in disbelief. It's just unimaginable
Everytime one of our brothers and sisters are killed, it breaks my heart. Technology definately has a downside too. I pray that someday we can have peace but until that that, God bless our men and women
in uniform who help to protect our freedom and way of life every single day.