Nurse in Afghanistan Dies in Skype Chat with Wife

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/05/us/afghanistan-skype-death/index.html

Army: Death of soldier who died during Skype session with wife is under investigation

By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 5:26 AM EDT, Sat May 5, 2012

(CNN) -- The death of a U.S. Army captain who died while engaged in a video chat with his wife from Afghanistan remained under investigation Saturday, the family said.

Capt. Bruce Kevin Clark was in Tarin Kowt, about 85 miles (140 kilometers) north of Kandahar, when he died during a Skype session with his wife.

Clarence Davis, a spokesman for the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, where Clark was based, said that it has not been determined how Clark died and that the case is under investigation.

Clark's family said in a statement that they'd hoped for "a miracle" after his wife Susan saw what happened to Clark during their chat on Monday, but "it was not to be." They did not elaborate as to what took place.

"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," Clark's wife and family said Friday.

Clark -- known by many as Kevin -- was a chief nurse in the Army who amassed many honors in his military career, according to his family. Those include an Army Commendation Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and an Army Service Medal.

The longtime resident of Spencerport, New York, joined the Army in September 2006 and served, among other places, at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, according to a Beaumont Army Medical Center statement. More recently, he was based at that medical facility in southwest Texas and assigned to the Army's A Company, Troop Command.

"He loved being in the military," his sister-in-law Mariana Barry told CNN affiliate WHAM in upstate New York. "He was absolutely willing to make any sacrifice, and it's just horrible that this is the sacrifice he ended up making."

His commander described Clark, 43, as "awesome," "professional" and "a great asset, leader and friend," the family said.

After his death, special operations troops from the United States and Australia lined up to give him his final send-off from Afghanistan.

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