FORT IRWIN, CALIF. – Chief Warrant officer (CW2) Phillip Austin Clark entered the U.S. Army, branch Army Aviation in February 2017 and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.

After basic training, he served three years at Fort Rucker and completed Warrant Officer Candidate School and Flight School. “I pinned my wings in June of 2019, earning the title of Army Aviator. My primary aircraft is the UH60M Blackhawk. I was stationed at Camp Humphreys, South Korea where I flew HH60M,” Clark said.

The HH60M Black Hawk helicopter is a medical evacuation version of the UH-60M Black Hawk multi-mission helicopter

Clark was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in November 2019. Currently, he is stationed at Fort Irwin, Calif., and flies the OH58D Kiowa and UH72 Lakota military helicopters.

Clark was born in Huntsville. The family lived in Toney until March 2009 when they moved to Madison. “I attended Bob Jones High School. My flight training in the Army will serve as college credits when I decide to begin college,” he said.

Since he was a young boy, Phillip has had a special interest in collecting and working on Lionel model trains. He also enjoys working on his 1984 Chevy C10 truck.

Phillip has three brothers. Alex McNabb, 31, is an Army veteran and lives in Georgia with his daughter. Chris Clark, 29, is a U.S. Marine in active duty at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center or MCAGCC, also known as 29 Palms, in California. Chris and his wife have two daughters.

“In Alabama, my little brother is William Clark, age 13 years old. He is in the eighth grade at Discovery Middle School,” Phillip said.

Phillip’s parents are Gerald and Tina Clark.

“As parents, Gerald and I are very proud of Phillip and his accomplishments,” Tina Clark said. “He chose his path, made his way in this world and has done it on his terms.”

“Phillip is a strong young man with a bright future. He is missed, but we understand his choice to serve and are very honored to know God gave us the ability to mold him to the young man he is today,” Tina said.