Sgt. Tristan M. Clinger was born October 23, 1987, in Marion, Ohio to Daniel and Darlene Clinger. His father (also a Marine) had returned from Japan just in time to bring him home from the hospital at not quite 24 hours old, and he marveled at the world from that day on. Tristan was kind and goodhearted, sensitive, intelligent, and quite ornery too. However, I believe one of his most incredible attributes was that he was blessed with a heart that carried immense compassion for those around him. Tristan was always the person who had a smile or a joke to lift someone up. He was the friend to those who had none. Some would say that he was an old soul, a salt of the earth sort of person. An old high school friend Sean said of Tristan, "He had a deep soul that went beyond the surface and that allowed him to see and feel and experience life and people to a fuller force.  He just seemed to understand things better and that’s what I liked about him.  That’s what I admired about him."  Since Tristan was young he was inquisitive and introspective, always asking questions, wanting to know the world, the universe - to understand them from an existential point of view far beyond his years. That being said, he certainly gave us more than just a few grey hairs growing up as he searched to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. At Twenty-two, our struggling artist, father of one, called and said he was going to become a Marine - something he used to say when he was little but which we hadn't heard in a long time. A huge surprise for one who didn't really like being told what to do, or staying within the lines. We have always been proud of Tristan, but to say that this choice made us even more so is an understatement. Not because dad is an old Marine, but because he had grown into a man and wanted to build his best life and was thinking of what would be best for his family in the long run. That made us the proudest parents.

Tristan was passionate and fiercely dedicated to his family. He was a tremendous husband and father and put all of himself into being so for his wife, Rachel, and three children, Alice, Ellsie, and Bear. He worked hard, making sacrifices necessary to protect his family. But more importantly - he was attentive and gave them his precious time. Regardless of how long or hard his day had been, he would come home with a smile and a hug for his wife, to help with the house or take care of or play with the kids. Tristan especially cherished showing his children the world through his own eyes, and his family would often be found hiking in the woods searching for all the wondrous gifts of nature that so many easily pass by. Whether it be the tiniest flower, mushroom, or an insect of some kind, he was eager to share it all with his children - something they all remember and continue to enjoy doing still today.

Along with being a pretty darn awesome son and brother, Tristan had a enthusiastic nature, putting all he was into anything he was doing. He had many hobbies and was always seeking to learn and try new things. He especially loved reading, art, music, dancing, and cooking. What we loved so much is that any hobby Tristan loved to do, he tried to include his wife and children. A favorite was making the various holiday cookies and candies with the kids as he did growing up. Although he dabbled in many forms of art, he favored painting, sketching, ceramics, and photography. A friend said of him that during high school photography outings, the class would chatter but "Tristan, however, stayed quiet and would survey everything.  Only when we were moving to the next stop did he engage in conversation.  He was absorbed in his environment and open to his surroundings." This was true also in any natural climate. Tristan found great joy and peace in being outdoors and he knew how to be one with nature. He often could be found fishing with the little ones - who had poles in their hands probably even as toddlers. He also loved camping and hiking - all things he had done with own his dad.

Another passion that followed Tristan throughout life was skateboarding. He spent many hours skating with his younger brother growing up before Keegan passed. His friend, Dave fondly recalls, "In 2011 at a skate park on a Marine Corps base in North Carolina I met a friend that would become a huge part of my life and I didn’t know it yet." This joy Tristan also shared with his children - holding their tiny hands as he pulled them along when they were too small to do it on their own.

We have heard many heartwarming stories about Tristan. One of his Marine brothers, Dave, said Tristan was, " the most caring person I have ever met."  Another said, "As far as a description of Clinger I'd say he made the Marine Corps suck less. Our days were long and stressful. Clinger had fun and he was such a joy to be around. Not only did he make the work bearable he also brought on this sense of calm, like things were just okay. He was selfless and cared more for others than himself. He loved his family and was a great friend.”  A friend from high school wrote after he passed, "To me, Tristan was confidence and courage that I didn't have and I tried to follow his example in living one's life that way. He will always be the explorer and deep thinker who knew there was more going on than what he was surrounded by. I will always be a better person for having known, Tristan."

Tristan was excellent in his field with the Marines. He was a person who seemed to be able to fix just about anything, whether he had the "right" material or tools to do it, which served him well as a CH-53e mechanic. At his last squadron, HMH-772, he was referred to as their 'go to' mechanic, as they knew the job was going to be done right and he wouldn't stop until it was. Tristan took much pride in his ability to "think outside of the box" when resolving issues that grounded the aircraft, and one such event resulted in him being awarded both the Sikorsky award and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal. To this day, his commander proudly professes Tristan to be in the top five percent of Marines she has ever met, that was simply the type of man he was.

Our hearts were broken when Tristan left our world in Dec. 2015. We. Never. Saw. It. Coming. We now know that Tristan struggled with PTSD, from the unexpected death of his brother as well as ongoing battles with life-threatening MRSA surgeries. He was found to have thyroid cancer after he passed that he didn't even know he had. His friend said it well in that, "Depression is an ugly monster that robs even the strongest person of self-worth and value."  I read somewhere that, "The passionate person will continue until either they succeed, their beliefs change, or all hope is lost."

--- Please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

How do you describe your child when they are gone? Encapsulate who they were into several paragraphs or a page or two? We can only try and fail for they were so much more. Tristan was so many things in life - an artist, a friend, a husband, a father, a brother, a Marine, a son, and more. You, our dear son, will never be forgotten.