SFC Hugh Clark Jr - Page 2

Navy · 12-30-2007, 09:01 PM

Hugh,

As one dad of one deployed multiple times to another, I am certain your joy and relief surpasses anything imaginable.
You have a right to be very proud, and, of course, the duty to be VERY thankful.

May God bless you and your warrior son.

Tom A.

azlaw · 12-31-2007, 01:33 PM

Wonderful news! Perhaps a gift for the returning hero headed to Bear Country... after all, it pays to go well heeled...

thegundude · 12-31-2007, 02:20 PM

Congrats on the best Christmas present a guy could ask for! Please thank him once again for his service, will ya. It's greatly appreciated...

Also, I second the vote for a nice big bore revolver. Ya just can't trust those wimpy caliber semi-autos for that kind of environment...

Hugh · 01-15-2008, 08:48 PM

Thanks for all your well wishes. In reply to several comments and questions, Hugh was in Alaska when he deployed to Iraq and requested to be returned there. He says he likes it up there so much that he may stay after retirement.

He has a Ruger Blackhawk 41 Mag that I gave him when he originally transferred, that should be good bear medicine.

As for the Bronze Star, I will let him describe the action in his own words written in an email last year:

We were driving back from a meeting with the Iraqi Army and following them to another compound when one of our trucks was hit by an EFP/IED. The first vehicle in our group was the Team Chief and his crew, all members of MiTT***. I was approx 60 meters behind them in the 4th vehicle, and at the moment of the explosion just happened to be watching the road in front of us.
It was a huge explosion with approx 40lbs of plastic explosives along with a 3 array EFP (Explosive Foreign Projectile), which are copper slugs faced at the precise angle to enter the trucks to sustain the maximum amount of damage to casualties. We immediately came to a stop and cordoned off the area north and south of the damaged vehicle.
One of the soldiers in the truck came on the radio and could barely speak, all we heard was that he could not get the door open. The truck was on fire and we had to move fast. The team member in the second vehicle ran to the vehicle and helped to extract 3 of the 5 injured. Two of them exited the vehicle on their own and barely made it to the side of the road before they collapsed.
During this time, I pushed my truck up to within 20 meters of the disabled truck and saw one of our guys laying on the ground. I will save the details but tell you below his knees on both legs was not much. I approached him and immediately started treating him along with the help of the other medic. The driver of the second vehicle (which is the truck I normally ride with) jumped out with my extra aid bag and immediately started to apply tourniquets to the other wounded in the road.
I was approx 10 meters away from the burning truck when all hell broke lose...M203 High Explosive rounds and 50 Caliber rounds started cooking off. We were blown back to the ground by the explosions and immediately grabbed the wounded soldier and dragged him behind my vehicle approx 20 meters away and continued treatment. Was a mess, but the team pulled through and I eventually made my way to treat and evaluate all 5 team members.
The driver who grabbed my aid bag and had started to administer lifesaving treatment to the other members left when I arrived, grabbed two fire extinguishers and immediately approached the burning and exploding vehicle to extinguish the fire. Great display of valor, and possibly saved the lives of others on the team. I am not at liberty to explain what we carry on the trucks in detail but due to the significant injuries the team had sustained we could not move them without further treatment being completed. At that time we were well within the range of getting seriously injured or killed. He put the fire out and returned to assist me in the treatment of the casualties.
We radioed to our base and MEDEVAC was dispatched and made it to our site in about 20 minutes. All five went through surgery and are doing well. They will be evacuated to Germany tonight and should all do well. The final outcome will be a long and trying period dealing with the healing process and physical therapy associated with their injuries. We believe the Soldier who sustained the most seriously injuries will keep his legs. Time will tell and further evaluation will need to be done, but so far, what we have heard is good news.

davidkachel · 01-15-2008, 09:03 PM

Damn!

davidkachel · 01-15-2008, 09:04 PM

Has Hugh Jr. been through a winter in Alaska yet? I would think coming from Texas he would find it more than a bit rough. I've given fleeting thought on occasion to moving to AK, but the thought of those arctic winters always pushes the first thought right back out of my mind.

Hugh · 01-16-2008, 12:18 PM

David,

Yes, he spent 2 yrs at Ft Richardson in Anchorage before being sent to Iraq. The twins were born up there. He spent 4 yrs in Kansas and 2 yrs in Korea before that, so he is used to cold weather.

lfid · 01-16-2008, 02:10 PM

Hugh,
congratulations !!! on your son's accomplishments and safe return , and the wonderful family

Bill

12-31-2007, 02:20 PM	#23
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Congrats on the best Christmas present a guy could ask for! Please thank him once again for his service, will ya. It's greatly appreciated... Also, I second the vote for a nice big bore revolver. Ya just can't trust those wimpy caliber semi-autos for that kind of environment... __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

01-15-2008, 08:48 PM	#24
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Thanks for all your well wishes. In reply to several comments and questions, Hugh was in Alaska when he deployed to Iraq and requested to be returned there. He says he likes it up there so much that he may stay after retirement. He has a Ruger Blackhawk 41 Mag that I gave him when he originally transferred, that should be good bear medicine. As for the Bronze Star, I will let him describe the action in his own words written in an email last year: We were driving back from a meeting with the Iraqi Army and following them to another compound when one of our trucks was hit by an EFP/IED. The first vehicle in our group was the Team Chief and his crew, all members of MiTT*. I was approx 60 meters behind them in the 4th vehicle, and at the moment of the explosion just happened to be watching the road in front of us. It was a huge explosion with approx 40lbs of plastic explosives along with a 3 array EFP (Explosive Foreign Projectile), which are copper slugs faced at the precise angle to enter the trucks to sustain the maximum amount of damage to casualties. We immediately came to a stop and cordoned off the area north and south of the damaged vehicle. One of the soldiers in the truck came on the radio and could barely speak, all we heard was that he could not get the door open. The truck was on fire and we had to move fast. The team member in the second vehicle ran to the vehicle and helped to extract 3 of the 5 injured. Two of them exited the vehicle on their own and barely made it to the side of the road before they collapsed. During this time, I pushed my truck up to within 20 meters of the disabled truck and saw one of our guys laying on the ground. I will save the details but tell you below his knees on both legs was not much. I approached him and immediately started treating him along with the help of the other medic. The driver of the second vehicle (which is the truck I normally ride with) jumped out with my extra aid bag and immediately started to apply tourniquets to the other wounded in the road. I was approx 10 meters away from the burning truck when all hell broke lose...M203 High Explosive rounds and 50 Caliber rounds started cooking off. We were blown back to the ground by the explosions and immediately grabbed the wounded soldier and dragged him behind my vehicle approx 20 meters away and continued treatment. Was a mess, but the team pulled through and I eventually made my way to treat and evaluate all 5 team members. The driver who grabbed my aid bag and had started to administer lifesaving treatment to the other members left when I arrived, grabbed two fire extinguishers and immediately approached the burning and exploding vehicle to extinguish the fire. Great display of valor, and possibly saved the lives of others on the team. I am not at liberty to explain what we carry on the trucks in detail but due to the significant injuries the team had sustained we could not move them without further treatment being completed. At that time we were well within the range of getting seriously injured or killed. He put the fire out and returned to assist me in the treatment of the casualties. We radioed to our base and MEDEVAC was dispatched and made it to our site in about 20 minutes. All five went through surgery and are doing well. They will be evacuated to Germany tonight and should all do well. The final outcome will be a long and trying period dealing with the healing process and physical therapy associated with their injuries. We believe the Soldier who sustained the most seriously injuries will keep his legs. Time will tell and further evaluation will need to be done, but so far, what we have heard is good news. __________________ TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!**

01-15-2008, 09:03 PM	#25
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Damn! __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

01-15-2008, 09:04 PM	#26
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Has Hugh Jr. been through a winter in Alaska yet? I would think coming from Texas he would find it more than a bit rough. I've given fleeting thought on occasion to moving to AK, but the thought of those arctic winters always pushes the first thought right back out of my mind. __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

01-16-2008, 12:18 PM	#27
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	David, Yes, he spent 2 yrs at Ft Richardson in Anchorage before being sent to Iraq. The twins were born up there. He spent 4 yrs in Kansas and 2 yrs in Korea before that, so he is used to cold weather. __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

12-30-2007, 09:01 PM	#21
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Hugh, As one dad of one deployed multiple times to another, I am certain your joy and relief surpasses anything imaginable. You have a right to be very proud, and, of course, the duty to be VERY thankful. May God bless you and your warrior son. Tom A.

12-31-2007, 01:33 PM	#22
azlaw User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 204 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Wonderful news! Perhaps a gift for the returning hero headed to Bear Country... after all, it pays to go well heeled...

01-16-2008, 02:10 PM	#28
lfid Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wichita, KS USA Posts: 453 Thanks: 573 Thanked 96 Times in 53 Posts	Hugh, congratulations !!! on your son's accomplishments and safe return , and the wonderful family Bill