Quote · The Shawn Ryan Show
#317 Johnnie Clark - Surviving One of the Deadliest Jobs During the Vietnam War
Where this was said
Introduction and Patreon Q&A: Why Johnnie Clark Wrote Guns Up!
At 11:00 · 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 [1] — Johnnie Clark "Returning Vietnam veterans were pelted with tomatoes and eggs by protesters at El Toro air base. Within hours of landing on American soil, …" 07:01 . 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 His advice to aspiring writers: write like you talk, take creative writing courses, and write for your family first — not for publication.
Johnnie Clark was wounded three separate times in Vietnam — by a mortar, a grenade, and a gunshot — and was awarded three Purple Hearts.
Clark began training in martial arts in Okinawa as physical therapy for his combat wounds and has now practiced for over 50 years, earning 8th Dan Grandmaster in Taekwondo.
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.
