By By BILL SANDIFER Staff writer
Robin Little Clark was born and reared in Washington.
About 17 years ago, she met a soldier named Edwin Dale Clark Jr., a Marine, and they hit it off.
Being married to a Marine, said Clark, is akin to being one yourself.
First Sgt. Edwin Clark was deployed to Iraq on Feb. 17, no surprise, according to Robin Clark.
The Clarks, stationed in Hawaii for three years before returning to North Carolina, talked world politics daily and were aware early on that a separation was very likely.
Clark's parents, Harold and Phyllis Little, live in Washington. "It's so good to be able to drive home," she said.
The Clarks' two daughters -- Ashton, 16, and Alicia, 13 -- have had a tough go of it since Clark was deployed.
Clark added that her daughters are very close to their dad.
As for Robin herself, she said, "There are good days; there are bad days. I miss him a lot. It's tough, kinda tough taking care of things."
Clark, who was a drill instructor during Desert Storm and didn't face combat, is now part of an electronic maintenance unit based at Camp Lejeune.
Robin Clark said she and her husband communicate by e-mail every three or four days, which, she added, "is not enough." But she said, "I'm so thankful for that."
Clark married into a military family. "His father was in Vietnam," she said. "And his grandfather was a China Marine (a Marine who served in China)."
After hours of discussions on world politics, Clark said she and her husband agree on most issues, including the war in Iraq.
However, war, she said, is nothing to be taken lightly.
Referring to her husband's views, she added, "I'm a little softer than he is."
However, once the war began, she said, "There's just no looking back."
Despite the stresses of having a husband at war, Clark said she doesn't regret being part of a Marine family.
Her children, she said, have been exposed to different cultures and have been able to see many places most folks don't ever get to visit.
Already at the 21-year mark in his military career, Edwin Clark likely will put in his full 30 years before retiring, said Robin Clark.
In the short term, however, Clark said she's just looking forward to an end to the conflict and having her family reunited.