Clinton T. Newman

Staff Sgt. Clinton T. Newman was born on July 5, 1979, in Midland, Texas. He was a trained civil affairs noncommissioned officer assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade, San Antonio, Texas. He died north of Deh Rawod in central Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee on February 13.

A resident of San Antonio, Texas, Newman entered the U.S. Army as a private in the Delayed Entry Enlistment Program in July 1996, one year before graduating from Pleasanton High School in Texas. After his assignment in Fort Benning, Ga., where he completed both basic and advanced individual training as a Bradley fighting vehicle infantryman in the fall of 1997, Newman's first assignment was with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, Baumholder, Germany. In the summer of 1998, he earned his combat lifesaver qualification. Upon completion of his overseas service in the fall of 1999, Newman had been promoted to private first class and specialist before beginning his short term in the Individual Ready Reserve. However, in October 1999, he re-entered the Army, becoming qualified as an infantryman. Newman was assigned as an operations sergeant to the 1st Armored Division, Bad Kruetznach, Germany, where he served for approximately 15 months and completed his Primary Leadership Development Course. Newman returned to the IRR in April 2001, and two months later, re-entered the Army Reserve. He graduated from the Civil Affairs Specialist Reclassification Course and was assigned to an Army Reserve special operations unit, the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade, San Antonio, Texas. He deployed with the unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in June 2003 and was promoted to sergeant during this rotation. He returned from Afghanistan in February 2004. In March 2005, Newman completed the Basic Airborne Course, and then redeployed shortly thereafter to Afghanistan with the 492nd Civil Affairs Bn. in Phoenix, Arizona. He was promoted to staff sergeant in June 2005. Newman's military training included the Driver's Training Course, Infantryman Course, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Infantryman Course, Basic Infantryman Course, Basic Airborne Course, Professional Leadership Development Course, the Civil Affairs Reclassification Course and the Combat Lifesaver Course.

Clint's military awards included the Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization device, Armed Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, and he was named Army Reserve Soldier of the Year in 2000. His posthumous awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Armed Force Reserve Medal with "M" mobilization device and the numeral "2" device, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

His civilian education included attendance at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he studied criminal justice. He took great pleasure in running, fishing and spending time with his fellow soldiers. He was a loving, generous son and brother who was extremely loyal to his family and friends. His strong desire to do the honest and upright thing for himself and others served as an inspiration to his family. We now realize through an outpouring of calls, letters, e-mails and visits from friends both past and present, that he had much the same effect on them. Clint possessed an adventurous spirit and love of learning, and always applied 100 percent of himself to everything he did. It was that adventurous spirit that led him to join the Army. He loved the camaraderie, structure and discipline he found there. He was a true patriot who served his country proudly for nine years. His quick wit, contagious smile and loving spirit will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his father, Fred Newman and step-mother, Debra of Big Spring and mother, Debbie Agnew and step-father, Bill of Pleasanton. He is also survived by his brothers, Robby Newman and fianceé Cindy Paul of Verdi, Tye Newman of San Antonio; maternal grandparents, Paul and Lorena Crosthwait of Kerrville; maternal grandmother, Kawana Newman; step-brothers, Joey Agnew of San Marcos, Brian Agnew of Austin; girlfriend, Julia Conrath of San Antonio; aunts and uncles, Paula and Phil Barron of Kerrville and Tommy and Marilyn Newman of Stanton. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Tom Newman.

Funeral services will be at 10 AM on Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Pleasanton, with burial to follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

The family is requesting, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Fisher House, which is a project at Brook Army Medical Center, that provides housing for the families of recovering soldiers residing at the facility. The address for making such donations in Clint's memory may be made to: Attn. Fisher House Manager, 3623 George C. Beach Road, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234. With your donation the project managers has asked that persons donating give their name as well as noting for whom the donation is made.