Should be a Great Morning
Because I am going to meet a true American hero, someone who has earned a word we so overuse.
When I was 25 years old, I worked in a bank. When Wesley Clark was 25, he had graduated #1 in his class from West Point, completed his Rhodes scholarship at Oxford, and was leading a platoon in Vietnam, when "As the friendly force maneuvered through the treacherous region, it was suddenly subjected to an intense small arms fire from a well-concealed insurgent element. Although painfully wounded in the initial volley, Captain Clark immediately directed his men on a counter-assault of the enemy positions. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Clark remained with his unit until the reactionary force arrived and the situation was well in hand. His courageous initiative and exemplary professionalism significantly contributed to the successful outcome of the engagement. Captain Clark's unquestionable valor in close combat against a hostile force is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army." (From citiation from his Silver Star). Having been shot four times- in the right shoulder, right hand, right hip and left leg, Clark refused to leave his men, ignoring the entreaties of his medical corpsman. He stayed until the battle was won.
He would go on to serve 34 years in the United States Army, retiring as a four star general, with a chest full of medals, having left as been NATO's supreme commander in Europe where he helped negotiate the Dayton Peace accords. Thanks in part to his leadership, we acheived peace in the Balkans without the loss of a single American life.
That is the man whose hand I am going to shake today. My heartfelt gratitude is all I can offer him with the sacrifices he has made for all of us.
When I was 25 years old, I worked in a bank. When Wesley Clark was 25, he had graduated #1 in his class from West Point, completed his Rhodes scholarship at Oxford, and was leading a platoon in Vietnam, when "As the friendly force maneuvered through the treacherous region, it was suddenly subjected to an intense small arms fire from a well-concealed insurgent element. Although painfully wounded in the initial volley, Captain Clark immediately directed his men on a counter-assault of the enemy positions. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Clark remained with his unit until the reactionary force arrived and the situation was well in hand. His courageous initiative and exemplary professionalism significantly contributed to the successful outcome of the engagement. Captain Clark's unquestionable valor in close combat against a hostile force is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army." (From citiation from his Silver Star). Having been shot four times- in the right shoulder, right hand, right hip and left leg, Clark refused to leave his men, ignoring the entreaties of his medical corpsman. He stayed until the battle was won.
He would go on to serve 34 years in the United States Army, retiring as a four star general, with a chest full of medals, having left as been NATO's supreme commander in Europe where he helped negotiate the Dayton Peace accords. Thanks in part to his leadership, we acheived peace in the Balkans without the loss of a single American life.
That is the man whose hand I am going to shake today. My heartfelt gratitude is all I can offer him with the sacrifices he has made for all of us.
posted by Scott L. Stuart at
8:35 AM
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