Fallen Battle Ground soldier remembered

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Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonah D. McClellan died Sept. 21, 2010, in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash in Qalat, Zabul, Afghanistan. He was 26, grew up in Battle Ground and graduated from Summit View High School in 2002.

On Friday, eight years to the date of McClellan’s death, family members and friends gathered at the Clark County Veterans War Memorial at the Fort Vancouver Barracks for a remembrance ceremony.

McClellan was one of nine service members who lost their lives in that helicopter crash during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was on his second tour of duty.

McClellan’s awards and decorations include Air Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Meritorious Unit Commendation; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Army Service Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal Combat Action Badge and Army Aviator Badge.

Jonah McClellan and his wife Nina were married for six years. They had three children; sons Ayden and Renn McClellan and daughter Ayla McClellan.

“It’s heartwarming to see all these people,” Nina said. “It’s a great way to remember him.”



Leona and Rod McClellan are proud of their son. He joined the Army in 2003 and had been involved in a variety of missions including medical recovery, transporting troops and dropping ammunition.

“He was an extremely focused person, so once he became a pilot, he was all Army and all family,” Rod McClellan said. “It’s impressive how the military took care of his family and us ever since it happened. It’s been eight years today, and it’s still a little raw.”

The McClellan family thanked the Patriot Guard Riders and the military representatives that helped organize this memorial for their son, husband and father.

“I thought it was a pretty powerful ceremony, and I think it was because of the family and the children that were involved that made it that way. That’s really encouraging to see,” said Patriot Guard ride captain John Posey. “It’s important to remember that there’s something bigger in life than ourselves and people like Jonah McClellan made the ultimate sacrifice.”