Two U.S. Marines stationed in Hawaii were killed in a car crash on Aug. 1.
KHON 2 News initially reported the two men killed were identified by officials in Honolulu, Hawaii as 21-year-old Jordan Cook and 20-year-old Gabriel Clark. A new report Tuesday by Marine Corps Times identified Cook as a Private First Class and Clark as a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marines.
Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Eric Abrams told the Times that Cook, from Kitsap, Washington, was a supply administration specialist who joined the Corps in August 2019. His decorations included the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.
Abrams said Clark, from Ramsey, Minnesota, was an Osprey crew chief assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 (VMM-363), which is located at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Clark joined the Marine Corp in October of 2018. His decorations included the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Cook, Clark and one other Marine were heading along Likelike Highway heading toward Honolulu when the driver of the vehicle lost control and collided with a rock wall, according to a Honolulu Police Department statement provided to the Times.
Cook and Clark were both pronounced dead at the scene while the third Marine, who was not identified, was transported to a nearby hospital.
The Honolulu Police statement said, “Speed and alcohol both appear to be contributing factors to this collision.”
“Cook was a valuable member of our command, and his tragic loss has impacted our entire Marine Corps family,” Col. Tony Bango, the battalion’s commander said in a statement to the Times. “Our deepest condolences go out to PFC Jordan Cook’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them always, as this young Marine’s spirit and legacy endures.”
Gunnery Sgt. Timothy Sampley, the flightline chief for VMM-363, told the Times, “Lance Cpl. Clark had an infectious positive outlook on everything he did and always made people smile. He made the tough times easier to handle. He was a great Marine and is sorely missed.”
