Hundreds Say Good-bye To Concord Soldier Killed In Iraq

CONCORD, N.C.,None — Family and friends attended the funeral Friday evening for one of the first American soldiers killed in Iraq after President Barack Obama declared an end to U.S. combat operations.

Shannah McClamrock, 23, received a folded American flag in honor of her husband.

Pfc. James McClamrock, 22, died in Iraq last week when a man wearing an Iraqi Army uniform opened fire on U.S. troops.

More than 500 people gathered in Concord on Thursday evening including classmates, veterans and an Army general.

"The army has lost a brave and honorable soldier," said Brig. Gen. Edward Dorman.

McClamrock told his family less than a year ago that he wanted to join the Army. His friends said they tried to talk him out of it.

"My stomach had knots, and I just looked at him and said, 'Why are you doing that? There are other people over there fighting,'" said high school classmate Matt Murdoch. "But he said, 'It's my calling. It was God's calling.'"

Faith was vital to McClamrock. His father, Mark McClamrock, is a longtime pastor at a local Presbyterian Church, and he delivered his son's eulogy Thursday.

"The things that have been said about James -- the character he had, the passion he had -- was because of his faith," said Mark McClamrock.

Shannah McClamrock said she knew James was special after only a few weeks of dating.

"That's the one I'm supposed to be with. That's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with," she said.

Shannah said she can't imagine her life without James.

"It's really hard to think about. I haven't really thought about that yet. It hasn't really hit me yet," she said.

WSOC