Johnnie Clark is an American author and Vietnam Veteran, best known for his 1984 Vietnam War memoir Guns Up!. Many of his works fall into the genre of non-fiction military and contain a tough, no nonsense portrayal of combat, courage, and camaraderie.
Mr. Clark joined the Marine Corps at 17 years of age after graduating from St. Petersburg High School. He served as a machine gunner with the famed 5th Marine Regiment during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. He was wounded 3 times, mortar round, grenade, and gunshot. During his rehabilitation from gunshot wounds in Okinawa, Mr. Clark began training in Martial Arts as part of his rehab program. In 2015 Mr. Clark returned from Korea after testing for his 8th Dan in Tae Kwon Do. He was also promoted to 9th Dan in the Ji Do Kwan. Grandmaster Clark owns and operates Johnnie Clark Tae Kwon Do and Judo school in St. Petersburg and has been inducted into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Mr. Clark’s books, Guns Up! and Semper Fidelis, are recommended reading by Lt. Col. Madonna, former MCG, to all newly commissioned officers at The Basic School. His books have been required reading in many colleges and high schools around the country as well as the Commandant’s List of suggested reading for all Marines. Many commanders have distributed Mr. Clark’s books to our troops now fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is the recipient of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association Brigadier General Robert L. Denig Memorial Distinguished Service Award for writing.
Mr. Clark has been awarded America’s 3rd highest medal for bravery and gallantry in combat, The Silver Star, 3 Purple Hearts, Vietnam’s highest Medal of Honor, The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, The Civil Action Combat Medal, The Marine Combat Ribbon among other decorations.
Mr. Clark currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Nancy, and dog, Gunner.
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00:00 Welcome and Introduction
14:01 Growing Up in Poverty
26:20 Enlisting in the Marines
39:25 First Days in Vietnam
53:24 Meeting Big Red
01:09:51 The Battle of Troy Bridge
01:23:28 First Kill & Combat Reality
01:37:48 Mercy, Loss & Moral Injury
01:53:38 Rediscovering Valor Years Later
02:05:33 Back Into Combat
02:15:27 Dodge City Graveyard Ambush
02:30:51 Writing Gunner's Glory
02:42:57 Race to the Last Gun
02:53:39 Breaking Point & Healing
03:09:36 Signs, Faith & Recovery
03:21:38 The Moral Spiral After War
03:32:13 Guardian Angels & Miracles
03:47:19 The Miracle of Guns Up
04:00:54 Finding Peace & Family
04:14:46 Firing the M60 Again
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