Black WWII Vet Gets Medal From Navy 66 Years Later
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(ABC)
Steward First Class Carl Clark waited 66 years for this day. It’s been years since the 95-year-old last wore his uniform — which has only been made complete today with the addition of a medal he won when he was 29.
During World War II, black men were allowed to enlist, but the only job available to them in the Navy was as stewards.
“Taking care of officers, feeding them their meals, cleaning their rooms, shining their shoes,” were just a few things that were part of the job, according to Clark.
When the ship was under attack, however, they joined their fellow soldiers, manning their battle stations like the rest of the crew. They did just that on May 3, 1945, near Okinawa on board the USS Aaron Ward.
“Our ship had been hit by nine kamikazes,” Clark said in a film. “All four of the other ships in our station were sunk.”
Clark’s job was to fight the fires on deck and to help the wounded.
“When first plane hit, I was blown against the overhead I broke my collarbone,” he said. ” I was the only survivor of an eight-man damage control team. But two minutes later a second plane came in. I stared at the pilot as he guided his plane toward our ship … the explosion blew me into the air to the other side of the ship.”
Singlehandedly, he kept the fires from reaching the big guns — saving the ship from exploding. They lost 40 men that day, but while his white comrades received medals for bravery, Clark did not, even though the ship’s captain felt he deserved it.
Clark’s story came to the attention of Rep. Anna Eshoo, who pushed the Navy to acknowledge him for his bravery. They were able to finally set it right today with an appropriate ceremony. The secretary of the Navy pinned the medal — the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation for valor — on Clark himself.
Clark didn’t think he’d live to see the day.
“It was a different country then,” he said, sadly understanding the slight. “Things have changed.”
Now, he’s amazed by the attention he’s being paid.
“All these people and the applause — it’s overwhelming,” Clark said.
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what was the name of the book that accompanied this story. I searched the librarty for “Pieces from my Mind” and could not locate anything.
Posted by: Brenda J. Oliver | January 17, 2012, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
I watch World News With Diane Sawyer only when I have to.
Why?
Because your writers tend to omit critical information from your on-air stories.
In the case of Carl Clark, David Wright’s account on World News did not include which medal Clark received. Instead, Wright mentioned “the medal” or “medals for bravery” but never which specific medal Clark received.
I think this is an oversight you should rectify with an amendment to the story on tomorrow night’s broadcast.
Posted by: Dennis Krivda | January 17, 2012, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
66 yrs. later? WTH? I say,”Shame on the NAVY” for waiting THAT LONG to acknowledge one of their very own Heros. This happened in WW2? And why couldn’t the NAVY honor him during the 50s?60s?70s?80s?90?Y2k? Now, the Secretary of the NAVY wants to walk up to this amazing man as if “No Harm, No Foul” and hand him a Medal? I know what he can do with that Medal. Shameful!
Posted by: THAFUZZ | January 17, 2012, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
Sir, I remove my cover for you. I’m a retired Chief and you’re but one of the many unsung and unrecognized heros of our time. Thank God you have outlived the stigma pinned to your race. Good is as good does and sir you are GOOD! Carry on! DF Arrich, CPO, USN(Ret)
Posted by: David Arrich | January 17, 2012, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm
America is still the same bigoted country that it was when Mr. Clark was in the Navy. I don’t see anything changing.
Posted by: Corbin | January 17, 2012, 10:35 pm 10:35 pm
Thank you for your service, sir, and welcome home.
Posted by: Ed | January 18, 2012, 1:17 am 1:17 am
Finally this man gets the recognition he has long deserved. Shame on the United States and the Armed Forces for waiting so long to bestow upon this man what he earned half a century ago. It’s time to start treating heroes like heroes regardless of their ethnicity. Mr. Clark we owe a debt of gratitude to you. Thank you. Thank you for your service, sir. You served your country with honor and dignity and you are well deserving of this honor. You are an inspiration.
Posted by: kevansvault | January 18, 2012, 2:08 am 2:08 am
The people who serve on ships are sailors or Marines…they are NOT soldiers (that’s Army)…all uniformed personnel fight as needed BUT civilians need to understand that military designations are earned and are NOT interchangeable.
Posted by: Gary L. Travis | January 18, 2012, 5:56 am 5:56 am
@Gary –> Good luck setting folks straight. Been trying for a long time myself, since Airmen are not Soldiers. To Mr. Clark –> Thank you for your service, sir. I echo ThaFuzz’s comment in asking, why has it taken THIS LONG?!?!? I know the procedure for awarding medals is tedious, and research might have been difficult, but STILL….more than 50 years? I’m glad you survived, Mr. Clark and by your story and your example, we all learn…many lessons.
Posted by: wildblue | January 18, 2012, 8:39 am 8:39 am
About time touching story and the best part he was so humble and happy to finally receive his metals
Posted by: yesenia | January 18, 2012, 8:51 am 8:51 am
What Medal did he receive? Are our reporters and editors so ignorant as to not report which Medal? If his commanding officer felt he deserved the medal…. how do we know? IF there is evidence of this knowledge, who stopped the awarding of the medal 66 years ago? Was it Naval policy as eluded to by the author?
Posted by: Paul Flaherty | January 18, 2012, 10:09 am 10:09 am
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal? Should have gotten at least the Bronze Star.
Posted by: Charles Jones | January 18, 2012, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
This was DEFINITELY NOT Navy policy. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, black mess cook Doris (Dorie) Miller was stationed on the West Virginia. He was assigned to transport wounded personnel down below. After that, on his own volution, he manned a 50 cal machine gun and downed at least one plane. Miller was commended by the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox on 1 April 1942, and on 27 May 1942 he received the Navy Cross, which Fleet Admiral (then Admiral) Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet personally presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) for his extraordinary courage in battle. Speaking of Miller, Nimitz remarked: This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I’m sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts. He was later killed after his ship was torpoedoed. He was honored with not only only medals, but had a ship named after him in 1970, the USS Doris Miller, DE-1091. I was glad to have served on that ship as were all the other crew.
Posted by: JimSt | January 18, 2012, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
I write for two reasons. One, to commend Clark for his bravery and to congratulate him on his award. One can read about the events of that day in “Brave Ship Brave Men, by Arnold S. Lott. But two, on a personal note, my now deceased father, Karl F. Neupert, was the Executive Officer of the USS Aaron Ward at the time. I would like to be put in touch with Mr. Clark, if he is agreeable.
Posted by: John Neupert | January 19, 2012, 1:37 am 1:37 am
First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Clark for his honorable service to our country. My father was also on the USS Aaron Ward, and also survived that horrific attack on May 3, 1945. I wonder if they new each other. As noted earlier by John Neupert, the story is told in a book titled “Brave Ship, Brave Men” and is the account written in “watches” to agree with the ship’s log of the USS Aaron Ward as written by it’s Skipper and Crew. It is a powerful, and stunning read! Difficult book to find. I would like Mr. Clark to know that the few crew members still alive and their extended families are still getting togther for reunions and would like to be sure he is aware of this year’s reunion location in Seattle, WA. I would love to meet Mr. Clark and here his story in person. Anyone interested in the story of this ship can log on to ussaaronward.. Be sure to look at the before and after pics of the ship destruction to get a feel for the devastation.
Posted by: Amy Shea Haas | January 19, 2012, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm