Fire Critic An Unadulterated View of the Fire Service
Updated with Funeral Arrangements:
A viewing will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2015 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at Oakey’s South Chapel.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 9, 2015 at First Baptist Church, 515 3rd St SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 at 2pm with full military honors.
Fellowship and food will be to follow across the street at Station 1, 713 3rd St SW, Roanoke, VA 24016.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Wounded Warriors project and Roanoke Firefighter Foundation P.O. Box 21286 Roanoke VA 24018. Arrangements by Oakey’s South Chapel.
Dress Code from Local 1132:
If you are planning on attending the Visitation tomorrow and Funeral on Monday for Brother Clingenpeel, we ask that you follow the dress code below. Remember how important it is for the family to see us in uniform.
Visitation Dress Code: Sunday, Oakeys South Chapel from 2-4 & 6-8.
ON Duty personnel – Class B with badge band.
Off Duty personnel – Class A with badge band.
Funeral Dress Code: Monday, First Baptist Church @ 1400.
Monday will be Class A with badge band. We will have badge bands to hand out for those that need one.
Thank you!
Jesse’s Obituary:
Jesse Clingenpeel, 25, of Roanoke, passed away in a motor vehicle accident on Thursday, November 5, 2015.Jesse lived every moment to the fullest. Those closest to Jesse, knew his passion for family, friends, firearms, life and above all else, God. He had the ability to light up any room with his presence and become friends with anyone. He never knew a stranger.As a child he 
dreamed of becoming a soldier and would even pretend to be in the ARMY. He enlisted into the ARMY at the age of 17. He became a decorated war veteran throughout his time in the service. He received a purple heart after being injured in Afghanistan in 2009. Jesse’s injuries made him incapable of carrying out his dream of remaining in the ARMY. Though in time, he traded one dream for another. He started attending EMT classes with the goal of becoming a paramedic. Jesse began his career with Roanoke City Fire and EMS in 2013, the same year he married his childhood sweetheart. At that point, his life became about helping and saving other people.Jesse leaves behind his wife, Amber Clingenpeel; father and stepmother, Jeff and Wendy Clingenpeel; mother and stepfather, Pyong and David Buchanan; sister, 
Leah Clingenpeel; parent-in-laws, Bobby Jones and Wanda and Wes Schaaff; grandparents, Danny and Mary Clingenpeel and Marge Buchanan; best friend, William Webster; and his four legged children, Bailey and Dobby. Jesse is a hero to our country and community. His passing has left a hole in the hearts of many who knew and loved him.A viewing will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2015 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oakey’s South Chapel. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2015, at First Baptist Church, 515 3rd St., SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 with Full Military Honors. Fellowship and food will be to follow across the street at Station 1, 713 3rd St., SW, Roanoke, VA 24016. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Wounded Warriors Project and Roanoke Firefighter Foundation, P.O. Box 21286, Roanoke, VA 24018.Arrangements by Oakey’s South Chapel, 540-989-3131. www.oakeys.com
Original Article:
Jesse Clingenpeel
Jesse Daniel Clingenpeel, 25, was a veteran of the United States Army. He joined the Army at the age of 17 on September 11, 2007. Jesse was hired in 2013 by the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department as a Firefighter/EMT and was stationed at #4 on C-Shift. He is survived by his wife Amber Clingenpeel. Jesse’s father-in-law is a Roanoke County Firefighter. Jesse was a Purple Heart recipient and Wounded Warrior Project Alumni. His service to our Country is detailed below.
Roanoke Fire-EMS Department (via Facebook): It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness and regret that Roanoke Fire-EMS announces the passing of one of our brothers, Jesse Clingenpeel. Firefighter-EMT Clingenpeel, age 25, was killed in a motor vehicle crash this morning on Brambleton Ave. in Roanoke County. He was on his way to work at Roanoke Fire-EMS Station 4 located on Peters Creek Rd., SW. Jesse was hired by Roanoke Fire-EMS in 2013. He was a decorated veteran and was a very special person that will be sorely missed by all of us. Please keep his family and friends and our department in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this difficult time. Rest easy brother – we will take it from here……
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Jesse’s wife with funeral costs and other expenses. Click here to donate.
News coverage of the accident:
- Roanoke firefighter dies after wreck on Brambleton Avenue
- Roanoke City firefighter identified as man killed in Roanoke County crash
- Roanoke City firefighter killed in Roanoke County accident
- Roanoke firefighter was wearing seat belt in deadly wreck
- Roanoke firefighters grieve Jesse Clingenpeel, comrade who died in wreck en route to work
More on Jesse Clingenpeel:
- The Clingenpeel Hit Factor (a biography of his time in the Army)
- A dream shattered: Roanoke Co. soldier Jesse Clingenpeel begins a journey home from injury in Afghanistan
- RainierBallistics.com bio
- Jesse Clingenpeel on Youtube
Captain Dean Russell, FF Jesse Clingenpeel, Lt. Scott Bradford.
While I did not know Jesse personally, and only met him once or twice, I can say that I never heard a negative comment about this young man who has left us too soon. His service to our Country, continuation of public service through firefighting, and his positive outlook on life is a legacy that we should all aspire to. In Jesse’s short 25 years on this earth, he achieved more than some of us will in a lifetime. Rest in Peace Jesse, your friends and family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Amber and Jesse Clingenpeel on their wedding day
U.S. Soldier Spc. Jesse Clingenpeel from Boonsville, Va., assigned to 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, pulls security as an Afghan girl watches during an air assault mission to search the Khowst province of Afghanistan during Operation Champion Sword July 29, 2009. Operation Champion Sword is a joint operation involving Afghanistan national security forces and International Security Assistance Forces focused on specific militant targets and safe havens within Sabari and Terezai Districts of Khowst province in eastern Afghanistan. Source: DVIDSHUB.net
On February 28, 2009, I deployed with my unit to Paktika Province, Afghanistan as a Designated Marksman. I was issued a M14 EBR, however I found that it was too heavy and I did not like the design of the EBR Mod 0 stock. I quickly pieced together a Winchester and H&R M14 in a walnut stock, then topped it with a Leupold Mk3 fixed 10x40mm.
The following months went great, none of us got seriously hurt despite the IEDs and firefights we seemed to attract. However on September 15, 2009 as fate would have it, our luck would change.
While coming back from a seven day mission on the border my truck hit a 700 to 800lb IED made of HME (Homemade Explosive). The truck was blown in the air and landed vertically in the crater the bomb had left. When the four other guys and I came to, we realized that we were being covered with diesel fuel while the truck was on fire. I noticed my beloved M14 was pinned under the gunners stand, and I was not able to free myself from the seat belt. I had to cut off my body armor to free myself and help push the others out of the gunners hatch. I was the second to last one out of the armored heap when I saw the others running full sprint to a nearby ditch. I scrambled to my feet and ran as fast as I could to join them behind cover. About 20 yards away from the MRAP truck I started feeling a clicking in my legs and ankle, however I just kept running. One of the guys saw that I had fell several times in my struggle to get behind cover. He then ran back for me and fireman’s carried me the rest of the way to the ditch.
With all of the adrenalin pumping I didn’t even notice that I had shattered my left heel/ankle and my right tibia/fibula. All of us that were in the explosion were medevaced out by helicopter within 20 minutes of the blast. I along with the others were awarded the Purple Heart upon our arrival to FOB (Forward Operating Base) Salerno.
A week later I awoke at Womack Hospital, Fort Bragg, NC. That month I went under several operations including rebuilding my heel/ankle with fourteen screws and several plates. Shortly after I had a metal rod inserted through my knee, reaching down to my right ankle, and two screws to hold it in place inside the tibia. I was told that I would not be able to walk for at least two years.
While going through physical therapy and learning how to walk again, I volunteered with the American Red Cross helping other wounded soldiers. Within 8 months I was walking on my own again; another year later I was able to start running regardless of the pain.
