Earlier this year I traveled with 14 students from my AP Human Geography and International Law classes to Atlanta, to attend a luncheon and lecture hosted by the Atlanta Council on International Relations where we had the chance to hear from Vietnam War veteran Colonel John Clark, USAF (Ret.), an American hero.
In particular, Colonel Clark recounted some of his experiences as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam over a period of six years. The students and I actually had a private audience with the colonel for about 30 minutes prior to lunch, during which he was able to speak with them more directly, sharing some of his stories and fielding questions.
As might seem to be the case for a consummate survivor, Colonel Clark exuded a zest for life. He walked with a cane, but made it very clear he was doing all in his power to not slow down. When asked about what it was like, mentally, to be staying on a relatively safe base in Indonesia, and to fly missions over Vietnam from which he might not return, he was very matter-of-fact in providing a warrior’s answer. There was a mission that needed to be completed, it was his job to carry out the mission, and frankly there were very few Americans with his kind of ability and qualifications who could possibly carry out that mission. There was really no choice to be made. It was a matter of duty, plain and simple.
Colonel Clark shared with the students the details of the mission in which he was shot down. Ironically, it was supposed to be a relatively routine reconnaissance mission, a “milk run,” as he called it. It was amazing to hear him describe the split-second decisions he had to make as he prepared to “punch out” from his aircraft, given that he was already very low, a mountainside loomed ahead, and his jet was spinning. A miscalculation and he could eject himself into the ground, or delay too long and end up crashing into the mountain. It was also fascinating to hear him describe his learning and use of the “tap code,” a method of communicating developed by the prisoners, while the North Vietnamese captors intended to keep them isolated. This communication was key in helping them maintain situational awareness and emotional welfare. It was particularly interesting to hear him refer almost casually to the interrogations, torture and dire living conditions he was forced to experience.
Finally, he offered some very interesting recollections of his experiences with some of the other prisoners. Though he did not mention John McCain during his main presentation, one of the guests asked him if he had crossed paths with McCain. It turns out he had, and he was able to offer some accounts of his personal interaction with McCain, some of which was very serious and some of which was light-hearted. The students were amazed by the colonel’s account of how he and his fellow prisoners handled evening entertainment. They would start talking about movies, and would ask if any had seen one of them. Those who had would then be asked to perform it- usually to a lot of laughs. He remembered well the one-man play re-enacting “War and Peace”!
This opportunity to hear from Colonel Clark was any eye-opener for the students, and for me too, and I am thankful for the opportunity we had. I look forward to future opportunities to lead students to attend some of the fantastic presentations hosted by the ACIR.
