The Shawn Ryan Show

Podbit · The Shawn Ryan Show

#317 Johnnie Clark - Surviving One of the Deadliest Jobs During the Vietnam War

Explore episode Jun 29, 2026
History
The Welcome Home That Broke Him

#317 Johnnie Clark - Surviving One of the Deadliest Jobs Du… · Jun 29, 2026 History

Returning Vietnam veterans were pelted with tomatoes and eggs by protesters at El Toro air base. Within hours of landing on American soil, Clark was denied entry to a bar because of his uniform — and was arrested at a bus station after decking a protester who spit on his shoes. Two Marine MPs recognized the 5th Marines pogie rope on his uniform, uncuffed him, and put him on a bus. That was his homecoming.

2m 19s

Where this was said

Introduction and Patreon Q&A: Why Johnnie Clark Wrote Guns Up!

At 7:01 · chapter starts 3:17

After a warm exchange about the podcast's Patreon community, Ryan delivers a full introduction covering Clark's Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, nine books, and five decades of Taekwondo. Clark then answers a subscriber's question about memoir writing with a story that immediately establishes his character: returning veterans were pelted with tomatoes and eggs at El Toro air base, a bar near the base refused to serve Marines, and within 11 hours of landing on American soil, Clark was arrested for punching a protester who spit on his shoes. Two Marine MPs recognized the 5th Marines insignia on his uniform and released him rather than book him. His advice to aspiring writers: write like you talk, take creative writing courses, and write for your family first — not for publication.

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