Marine Major Megan McClung continues to break barriers and make firsts even months after she was killed in action in Iraq on Dec. 6.

Sadly, her latest accomplishments were borne out of tragedy.

The Whidbey Island detachment of the venerable Marine Corps League renamed itself in honor of the skinny, five-foot-four Marine who accomplished an almost ridiculous amount in the 34 years of her life. While she never lived on Whidbey, her parents moved to Central Whidbey two years ago and she listed Coupeville as her home of record.

While it’s common practice for detachments to name themselves after local heroes, this is the first time one was named after a female service member killed in action, according to Michael Blum, executive director of the national Marine Corps League.

Herbert Weissblum is the judge advocate of the newly-named Major Megan McClung Whidbey Island Marine Corps League Detachment 1210. He believes it’s the first time any military organization — that’s not specifically a woman’s group — has named itself after a woman.

“We regard her very highly and we do consider her a real hero,” Weissblum said. “She volunteered for combat duty. She didn’t have to go. She had everything to live for. It’s a real tragedy.”

But the honor isn’t the first time the feisty redhead has broken through gender barriers. In fact, her parents, Michael and Re McClung, say she did that most of her life. She did it not to prove a point, but to to achieve the things she wanted out of life and to serve her country the best way she could.

“What was remarkable about Megan was she never saw a glass ceiling,” her mother said.

Growing up in California, Megan was a star gymnast on her high school team. Her mother explained that she wanted to gain extra upper body strength, so she tried to join a weight lifting class. Administrators refused to let her in because it was considered an all-male class.

Instead of giving up, Megan went to the school board and got her way.

Both parents say they were surprised when their daughter said she wanted to go to the Naval Academy. Her father had been a Marine, but had left the service when Megan was about three years old.

“She came about this strong sense of patriotism all on her own,” Re said. “It just started growing.”

Before she could get into the Naval Academy, Megan went to Admiral Farragut Academy, where she was the first female cadet. She went on to graduate from the Naval Academy in 1995.

Besides being a Marine, Megan was also a triathlete and competed in six Ironman competitions and marathons around the world. Her parents believe that their daughter’s amazing athleticism helped her earn respect in the Marine Corps.

Megan eventually left active duty and went into the reserves. She took a job as a civilian contractor in Iraq. But she wasn’t satisfied and volunteered to go back into active duty — specifically to Iraq.

Michael explained that his daughter worked as a public information officer with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. She was in charge of embedded journalists in Al Anbar Province.

Megan received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart while in the service.

While in Iraq last year, she organized and participated in the first-ever satellite running of the famous Marine Corps Marathon. “MCM Forward” was held in the sweltering heat of Anbar province.

Megan was in the final month on a year-old deployment when tragedy struck. On Dec. 6, while escorting “Newsweek” journalists into downtown Ramadi, she and two other members of the military were killed by an improvised explosive device.

The Marine major was the first female graduate of the United States Naval Academy to be killed in action since the school’s foundation in 1845. She was also the highest ranking woman to die as a result of enemy action in Iraq.

Since their daughter’s death, the McClungs say they have received dozens upon dozens of letters from journalists, military members and others who remembered Megan and were touched by her.

“She was widely known in Marine Corps circles,” Re said. “She knew journalists from all over the world. I guess it’s hard to miss a copper-headed sprite in the middle of everything else in Iraq.”

Countless reporters, bloggers and well-wishers have written about her since her death.

Major Megan McClung won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

The state of Hawaii, where she was born, is awarding her its Medal of Honor this month. Boston University, where she earned a master’s degree in criminal justice, set up a scholarship in her name. The Defense Information School named a classroom after her. Her parents are offering a scholarship in her name at the Naval Academy.

“She was very much my hero,” Re said. “I admired her so much. As a mother, I got to live vicariously through her.”