Jacob Andrew “Andy” Clifton graduated from Sandy Creek High School in 2003, and in the years since receiving his diploma, he has been a Marine and has spent time at Parris Island, 29 Palms, Camp Lejeune and Fallujah, Iraq. He is currently preparing for his second deployment to Iraq in March of 2007.

Clifton, the son of a Marine, has always been interested in serving his country, especially as a part of the United States Marine Corps. He plans on going to college when his commitment is up. Clifton enlisted for five years and currently has a year and a half to go. He is a corporal and a radio technician working on tanks in the Bravo Company, Second Tank Battalion, Second Marine Division.

“It was important for me to serve my country,” said Clifton, who added that paying for college and being able to travel were other things that lured him into enlisting.

Clifton was an offensive captain on the Patriots’ 2002 varsity football team, which placed third in the region and made the state playoffs. Clifton added that his football days were good preparation for life in the military.

“I have a great respect for Coach (Rodney) Walker and his program was tougher, in some ways, then training in the Marines. The Marines’ training lasts 24 hours a day and seven days a week, but the time I was practicing under Walker was often more intense than what I experienced later on.” Clifton added that there is a similar mentality in football and military experience and that it is important to exhibit leadership in both situations.

His first trip to Iraq was from March to October in 2005 and his time was spent at Camp Fallujah right after the initial assault. While his primary duties involved working on the communications systems in tanks, sometimes he would help set up road blocks, search for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and every now and then go on door to door searches.

In the months leading up to his departure, Clifton and his colleagues are training all the time to make sure they have everything in order and will know what they are doing once they get back to Iraq. Some of what they are currently working on include IED drills and reacting to enemy fire.

Clifton received a number of care packages while overseas the first time, many times from people he didn’t even know. He encouraged people to continue sending packages through the troops. Among the items that he recommended sending were soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dried fruit and magazines.

“Anything to keep your mind occupied is a good thing to send,” Clifton said. “And food.”

Clifton hopes to make sergeant before heading back to Iraq and though he isn’t looking forward to going back during what will be a very hot time of the year, he knows he and his brothers in arms have a job to do over there and they aim to do it and come back home.