Traces of Battle:
Valor in Vietnam
CPT Allen B. Clark Jr., USA (Ret)
Silver Star and Purple Heart Recipient from the Vietnam War reflects on his courageous sacrifice while serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces.
Embedded Files
Traces of Battle:
CPT Clark Jr. details his Silver Star and Purple Heart action from June 17, 1967
CPT Allen B. Clark Jr.
United States Army
Campaign: Vietnam War
Years of Service: 1963–1968
Early years
Cadet, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY (1959–1963)
Fort Hood (1963–1966)
17th Armored Engineer Battalion (2nd Armored Division)
Platoon Leader, Company XO, and Battalion S-3
Junior Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 2nd Armored Division
Vietnam War
POW Interrogator, 55th Military Intelligence Detachment (August 1966)
Detachment B-57, Fifth Special Forces Group (September 1966–June 1967)
Debriefed Cambodian Officer Defector (Attendee of Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia)—who was later assassinated
Trained and deployed Cambodian anti-Communists teams for reconnaissance missions in Cambodia (November 1966-January 1967)
Detachment A-244, Dak To, Central Highlands, Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
Organized agent espionage network
June 17, 1967, camp attacked with mortar barrage from North Vietnamese Army (NVA) battalion that infiltrated from Cambodia
Rehabilitation
Brooke Army Medial Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX (June 1967–September 10, 1968)
Retirement
Author
Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior (2007)
Valor in Vietnam (2012)
Soldiers' Blood and Bloodied Money (2019)
Lay Minister
Blogger
Awarded the Silver Star (see citation below) and Purple Heart
West Point cadet Clark, first ranking Spanish language student in the class of 1963, is presented the book Martin Fierro on behalf of BG Juan Carlos Ongania, Commander-in-Chief, Argentine Army, by BG William W. Bessell, Jr., Dean of Academics, USMA. Cadet Clark was also recognized as one of two outstanding debaters in his class and received a Swiss watch from the Swiss Consul General in New York City. He was the youngest cadet graduating in the class of 1963.
A Legacy of Service
CPT Clark Jr., pictured with his father, LTC (then, a young Lieutenant) Allen B. Clark Sr., USA.
West Point cadet Clark Jr. (right) in India Whites, with Father LTC Clark Sr. (left). Attending LTC Clark Sr.'s retirement ceremony, August 1962, at Palm Circle (Fort Shafter, Hawaii).
CPT Clark Jr.'s Service in Vietnam
Typical sights while serving in Vietnam.
Excerpt from Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior, describing CPT Clark Jr.'s Silver Star and Purple Heart action in Dak To.
On a training exercise in Vietnam (1967).
Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos tri-border area where CPT Clark Jr. would conduct aerial reconnaissance for eventual insertion of Cambodian intelligence agents into Cambodia, against North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong units.
Excerpt from Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior, recalling CPT Clark Jr.'s service in Vietnam handling Cambodian intelligence agents.
MAJ George Petrie, USA, who was a fellow Special Forces officer (Commander of the Special Forces Association— Dallas Chapter), and who also participated in a raid on Son Tay in 1970, commended CPT Clark Jr.'s service, remarking:
"You are one of us."
From left, circling right: Army Parachutist Badge; Special Forces unit crest; 17th Armored Engineer Battalion insignia; Combat Infantryman's Badge; Airborne Tab; Army Aide to Major General insignia; ribbon rack [Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (with two bronze stars for two campaigns), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]; Church War Cross; Army of the Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge; U.S. Military Academy Cadets West Point Class A Patch; Army Corps of Engineers officer's branch insignia badge; 2nd Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") patch; Army Military Intelligence branch insignia badge; and Army Special Forces Class A Patch.
Center: Army Special Forces Green Beret with Captain rank insignia
Where CPT Clark Jr. received his military intelligence training.
Decorated for Gallantry and Wounds Received in Action
CPT Clark Jr.'s Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
General orders officially awarding CPT Clark Jr. the Silver Star—for gallantry in action.
Dallas-area newspaper articles announcing CPT Clark Jr.'s Silver Star award.
Wounded in Action: Challenges & Resilience
CPT Clark Jr. Discusses PTSD, His Road to Recovery, & Faith
CPT Clark Jr. visiting his parents, LTC Clark Sr. and Mrs. Clark (right), his wife Jackie (center), and his sister Betty Chalfont and brother-in-law Lieutenant Alan Chalfont, USAF—El Paso, Texas, fall of 1967.
CPT Clark Jr. representing all wounded Vietnam veterans at the Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas, Saturday, June 2, 1973.
Continuing a Life of Service
CPT Clark Jr.'s Appointment as Special Assistant to the Governor of Texas William P. Clements Jr.
Appointed in 1978 for two and a half years, CPT Clark Jr. held the first office outside the governor's office, being tasked with disaster emergency services and liaisoning with the National Guard, alongside other responsibilities.
CPT Clark Jr.'s Selection as Deputy Administrator of Veterans Administration
CPT Clark Jr. was originally selected by President Reagan to serve as Deputy Administrator of Veterans Administration. (Declined for personal reasons)
CPT Clark Jr.'s Service in the President George H. W. Bush Administration
Under President George H. W. Bush, CPT Clark Jr. served first as Assistant Secretary for Veterans Liaison and Program Coordination at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, followed by a second appointment as the Director of the National Cemetery System. Pictured here, CPT Clark Jr. greets First Lady Barbara Bush and President Bush, while attending a reception at the White House.
A Heritage of Service
"It is nobler to serve than to be served."
CPT Clark Jr. continues to be a faithful, active Companion in the Dallas Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars.
CPT Clark Jr.'s wife Linda (whose father served in the European Theatre in World War II as a radio operator on C-47s) participates wholeheartedly in all MOWW Dallas Chapter activities.
Military Order of the World Wars
The Military Order of the World Wars serves our nation and local communities by providing and supporting activities that promote and encourage responsible citizenship, patriotism, youth leadership, military and public service, veteran support, and strong national security.
Click here to learn more here about MOWW and to consider joining its ranks.
In partnership with
This exhibit is part of the Dallas Chapter MOWW Gallantry & Service Museum. Click the museum logo below to experience more stories of courage in battle, and faithful service to our nation.
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