ByWillAtkinson.com

I wrote a feature story for the Veterans History Project. A manuscript, CD and research materials for this story are available at Winthrop Archives.

Audio of the interview:
[audio:HenryClark.mp3]

His friends call him upbeat, one of the nicest people you will ever meet, a finicky eater. He doesn’t like to have big parties in his apartment. The only things he’s ever won are a case of bohemian beer and a paper Halloween decoration.

Henry Clark is 89 years old. He is a World War II veteran.

“I was an aviation cadet at Maxwell Field in Alabama,” Clark said. “I became a lieutenant colonel.”

Clark lives in Rock Hill at Park Pointe Village retirement community. He’s been there four years and says he enjoys it. His gravelly, direct voice belies a jocular manner peppered with chuckles and jokes.

“He’s the most unlike fella who’d be an Air Force colonel,” said friend David Keglay. “He’s always got a smile and a punch line for you.”

Clark voluntarily enlisted in the Air Force. After the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, he saw an opportunity to serve his country and enlisted in the army air corps for pilot training.

He trained in Maxwell Field, Ga. Before leaving for training, one of his girlfriends, “Cookie,” wanted to come along. She was only supposed to be saying goodbye but she showed up with a suitcase.

“I told you that this is no time for kisses nor wishes!!” a frustrated Clark exclaimed.

After many tears, she eventually left.

His training took him from Mississippi to Yale University to Colorado. Glen Miller and his band even performed for the trainees.

Upon completing his courses, Clark and other soldiers made the trip to the Pacific war theater in a gasoline-powered ship. It was extremely vulnerable to enemy attack and the last of its kind.
One night, an announcement blared, “Man your battle stations. We are in mine-infested waters.”

The Enola Gay took off near Henry Clark’s Pacific post.

Clark was frightened for his life but the ship survived and the rest of the trip went smoothly.
He was stationed with the 20th Air Force division on the island of Saipan in the Marianas Islands. The Enola Gay, the B-29 plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, took off several miles from his post.

He stayed in touch with family and friends through the military V-mail system. V-mail (the V stands for Victory) letters were microfilm pictures of actual letters. The system was designed to speed up delivery.

One of Clark’s most indelible memories was after the battle for Iwo Jima. The island was infested by rats and covered in volcano dust. Some soldiers had constructed makeshift markers to commemorate two Marines who fell in battle.

There were two “crude but impressive” inscriptions. One read, “He died that we might live” and the other, “God is love.”

“[The inscriptions] show the love for God, country and comrade,” Clark said.

After the war, Clark joined the active reserve. He attended graduate school at Rutgers University, studying economics.

Clark recommends an Air Force career to anyone.

“I enjoyed wearing the uniform each day,” Clark said. “[The Air Force] has benefited my life more than any other venture.”

His military career has had its perks. Clark receives a generous retirement pension that will continue until he passes away.

Sometimes, he even receives special treatment.

On one occasion, he and his trainee friends were rushing to Columbus, Ga., when his car “blew a rod.” He coasted to a Chevrolet dealership and told the dealer they had dates and were running late.

“He got people to do whatever they had to do immediately,” Clark said. “He charged me $8.75 because we were in uniform.”

Clark was in the Air Force active reserve until his retirement in 1976 because “when your wife tells you to quit, you just say, ‘yes ma’am!’”

His friends appreciate his company.

“Henry has a great rapport with men and women,” said friend Charles Nesbit. “He has a great memory of his military life and understanding of duty, honor and God.”

Others agree.

“Mr. Henry and I have been good friends. He’s one of the finest men you would ever want to meet,” said friend Linda Sheppard, whom Clark calls “a country bumpkin dynamo.”

Henry enjoys his present life.

“I’m glad I’m an old man,” Clark said. “I’m majoring in survival.”