Ramrod Battalion Honors Vietnam War Hero

Photo By Sgt. Toby Cook | James Clark poses with son, Sgt. 1st Class James Clark, and his family after a ceremony held in his honor July 27 at the Duke Memorial. The ceremony was to officially present the elder Clark with a Bronze Star Medal he had been awarded for significant combat actions while serving in Vietnam. (Photo by 1st. Lt. Katara Singletary, 2-2 Inf. Regt.)  

FORT KNOX, KY, UNITED STATES

07.27.2012

Courtesy Story

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

By 1st Lt. Ansil Hethcox
2-2 Fire Support Officer

FORT KNOX, Ky. - The sun rose over Fort Knox’s Duke Memorial on a beautiful summer morning as the entire 2nd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment gathered to honor a hero from the past.

James Clark, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was presented the Bronze Star Medal, July 27, by Lt. Col. Eric Lopez, commander of 2-2, for his actions during combat operations in Vietnam.

Hundreds of soldiers from the “Ramrod Battalion” snapped to attention as the orders for Clark’s prestigious award echoed across the Duke Memorial. Clark’s son, Sgt. 1st Class James Clark of Prestonburg, Ky., stood at his side, while the Clark family watched on in admiration.

“The Vietnam generation of heroes was not welcomed home with open arms like we were,” remarked Lopez after the ceremony. “This was a chance to show a Vietnam War hero our appreciation and respect, and to show him the great reception we have felt as soldiers serving during the Global War on Terrorism. This was a fantastic opportunity to honor a true American hero and a great Army family.”

The elder Clark, a native of Auxier, Ky., was drafted during his senior year in high school and later deployed to Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division as an infantryman. During his deployment, he served at Fire Support Base Robbins and was awarded the Bronze Star for finding a cache of weapons and food that was going to be used for an enemy counterattack. In addition, he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during combat operations.

The younger Clark, who is due to retire this summer after 20 years of service, shared an emotional embrace with his father during the ceremony. He remarked that watching his father receive the nation’s fourth-highest award for combat was very special to him.

“It was one of the most memorable days of my military career-- my father and I standing together in the same formation being recognized for our accomplishments”, said Sgt. 1st Class Clark. “He was the reason that I joined the Army in the first place. Hearing the stories of his experiences in Vietnam as an infantryman was something from my childhood that I will never forget, and led me to my decision to enlist….It was a great day….to say good bye to the Army while remembering a past warrior in front of our family and fellow infantryman.”

• Date Taken: 07.27.2012
• Date Posted: 08.14.2012 12:37
• Story ID: 93196
• Location: FORT KNOX, KY, US