Marine Lance Cpl. Peter J Clore

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. Peter J Clore, 23, of New Philadelphia, Ohio

LCpl Clore was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 28, 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

LCpl Clore was mortally wounded by enemy fire while performing his duties as an Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Dog Handler.

The oldest of four children, LCPL Clore was named after his paternal great-grandfather, Peter H. Clore, and his maternal grandfather, James A. Connolly. He enjoyed playing video games and spending time with family and friends.

Active in parish life at Sacred Heart Catholic Church ever since the family moved to New Philadelphia in 1992, he volunteered as an altar server during regular and funeral Masses, earning recognition as an 8th grader for his outstanding service to the church.

He joined Cub Scout Pack 89 at Sacred Heart before becoming a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 95 of St. Joseph Parish at Dover, where he obtained the rank of Life Scout.

In his senior year, he won the bishop Hermann Service Award for outstanding service to school and community and was recognized as a church usher, Eucharistic minister, teen choir member and vacation Bible school instructor.

LCPL Clore graduated in 2006 from Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School where sister, Sarah, is currently a junior and brother, George, graduated in 2009.

LCPL Clore earned a varsity letter for each of his four years of wrestling and was a qualifier for district competition his junior and senior year where he earned a district championship in wrestling at 112 pounds.

Upon graduation, he was awarded the Bishop Herrmann Service Award for Outstanding Service to school and community and was also the recipient of a scholarship from the Carl C. Stoller Post #1445 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at New Philadelphia.

After high school, LCPL Clore studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum Seminary in Columbus. He was there for a year before joining the Marines in 2008, where while in boot camp, he was recognized for his service to his fellow recruits as a Religious Lay Leader.

He first deployed in 2009, then again in January 2010 to Haiti to assist in providing earthquake relief. He became a certified dog handler for the Marine Corps last year. He deployed to Afghanistan in March.

Family spokesman, and priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Father Jeff Coning, said Clore left the seminary to go into the military. He had spent a year studying priesthood before joining the military in 2008.

"He went in because he really felt that he needed to give some time to the country and just felt a strong sense of wanting to serve," Coning said. He described Clore as hard working, steadfast in his faith, and who you would want as a friend.

"As a priest, this is as close as it gets to losing my own kids...and it's pretty devastating," Coning said

The community paid respects to LCPL Clore last Saturday afternoon beneath the rotunda in the Tuscarawas County Courthouse. A Marine Honor Guard escorted the casket in and out of the courthouse prior to and following the period of mourning.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday at 11 a.m. in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Buriel followed at Calvary Cemetery where full military honores were rendered. Following the committal service, attendess were invited for a luncheon.

As LCPL Clore was the first to announce at any gathering of family and friends that "Life is short, eat dessert first", the parish community of Sacred Heart prepared ample desserts for all who attended.

LCPL Clore is survived by his parents, Chris and Cliff; brothers George and John, who just completed 4th grade, and sister, Sarah.

Marine Lance Cpl. Peter J Clore was killed in action on 5/28/11.