COUNTERING MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Articles: Military Service: Casualties
Marine killed in Iraq rushed to boot camp after Chelsea High
Associated Press
October 23, 2006
CHELSEA,
Mich. - Lance Cpl. Cliff Collinsworth was so eager to join the Marines
that he left for boot camp days after graduating from Chelsea High
School two years ago.
The 20-year-old was killed Saturday during his second tour of duty in
Iraq when a roadside bomb hit his Humvee near Ramadi, his family said.
Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Manoukian, 22, of Lathrup Village, also
died in the attack. Both were part of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine
Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
"He wanted to be a Marine for a long time, and it was a great thing for
him," Collinsworth's 22-year-old sister, Melissa Collinsworth, told The
Ann Arbor News. She said he hoped to attend college and teach history.
Collinsworth wrestled and played defensive lineman on the Chelsea High football team.
Wrestling coach Kerry Kargel also worked with the middle school
football team and said Collinsworth wrestled to improve his football
skills.
"He would always ask me, 'Will it make me tougher, coach? Will it make me tougher?'" Kargel said.
"When Cliff returned after his first tour of duty, he was very proud to
be a Marine," said teacher Marlene Segal. "Cliff wanted the teachers to
share in his success, and teachers appreciate that. Cliff left Chelsea
as a kid and came back a man."
School did not always come easily to Collinsworth, but he worked hard to graduate on time, said Chelsea High Principal Ron Mead.
"Cliff was always very personable with a quick smile," Mead said.
"Joining the military seemed to be a great match for Cliff. The last
time he was in the building in uniform with the recruiters, he looked
great, shared that things were going well and expressed more confidence
in himself that I had seen before."
Collinsworth returned to Iraq on Sept. 7 for a second tour after having six months in the United States, his sister said.
Manoukian was a radio operator and also was on his second tour in Iraq.
He married his high school girlfriend during a home leave in July.
"I'm happy that I got to live with him," his wife, Danielle Manoukian,
told The Oakland Press of Pontiac. "He was a person who would give and
give. He was the first to volunteer. I just feel so privileged that I
got to love somebody so much and he loved me so much."
"My dream for Nick was college," said his mother, Mary Manoukian
Calhoun. "He had such a kind, generous heart, and he gave the tightest,
best hugs in world. I can't imagine living the rest of my life without
him."
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