Flags lowered Thursday for Sgt. Kyle B. McClain

LANSING, Mich.—By order of Gov. Rick Snyder, flags on all campuses of Western Michigan University and throughout Michigan will be lowered to half-staff Thursday, Aug. 16, in honor of Sgt. Kyle B. McClain, of Rochester Hills, Mich.

McClain, 25, died Aug. 1 while on foot patrol in Salim Aka, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1433rd Engineer Company of the 507th Engineer Battalion of the 177th Military Police Brigade in Kalamazoo. McClain was a soldier in the Michigan National Guard.

McClain graduated from Rochester High School in 2005, and studied engineering at Ferris State University for two years before joining the U.S. Army National Guard. He was a combat engineer serving in Afghanistan, having already served tours of duty in Korea and Iraq.

McClain was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart posthumously. His other awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “Mobilization” device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2, North Atlantic Treaty Organization–International Security Assistance Force Medal, Michigan Service Medal (Broadsword), Michigan State War on Terrorism Ribbon with “Mobilization” device, Michigan Outside United States Service Ribbon, and the Expert Weapons Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar. He also received the Combat Action Badge posthumously.

Services

Visitation will be Wednesday, Aug. 15, from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Potere-Modetz Funeral Home in Rochester. The funeral service will be held Thursday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary of the Hills Catholic Church in Rochester Hills.

Former Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm issued a proclamation in 2003, requiring U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty. Michigan was among the first states to honor its fallen sons and daughters by lowering flags.