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Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior: A Personal Story of a Vietnam Veteran Who Lost his Legs but Found His Soul
It was early morning, June 17, 1967, and Dak To Special Forces camp in Vietnam was under attack. A mortar exploded, and West Point graduate Allen B. Clark Jr.'s life was changed forever. This is the story of how one soldier, so gravely injured that both of his legs were amputated, turned his grievous loss into a personal triumph. Clark describes his struggle through a year-long recovery and a severe bout of post traumatic stress disorder, so little understood at the time. He tells of earning his MBA from Southern Methodist University and finding employment as a personal financial assistant to Ross Perot, of moving on to public service and founding the Combat Faith Ministry, a lay ministry to veterans. Clark's story of growth and spiritual fulfillment wrested from his wartime tragedy is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and is of special relevance in our day of so many soldiers returning wounded in body and spirit from Iraq.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Allen B. Clark
4 books3 followersAllen B. Clark graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1963. Two years later, he volunteered for service in Vietnam and was assigned to the Fifth Special Forces Group. He was wounded in an early-morning mortar attack on the Dak To Special Forces camp on June 17, 1967, which necessitated the amputation of both legs below his knees. He lives in Dallas, Texas, and is the author of Valor in Vietnam: Chronicles of Honor, Courage and Sacrifice: 1963-1977 and Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior (2007), the story of his journey of healing.
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January 13, 2010
>Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior: A Personal Story of a Vietnam Veteran Who Lost His Legs but Found His SoulBy ALLEN CLARK
Reviewed: Janet Morrison - OHP Staff
Nonfiction (memoir), bibliography, index, 320 pp., 2007. Zenith Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885, $24.95 plus shipping.
The title of this book attracted my attention. I had just finished reading a memoir of another Vietnam veteran and was ready to read a second one while still in that mood. Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior immediately drew me in as it opens at the defining moment in Allen Clark’s life – 4:30 a.m. on June 17, 1967, at the Special Forces camp at Dak To, Vietnam – when a North Vietnamese mortar attack resulted in the eventual loss of both of Clark’s legs.
Mr. Clark weaves the story of his life by smoothly moving from Vietnam back to his days as a West Point cadet, back to the war, and then returning to his life before Vietnam. Throughout the book he makes the connection between how his early life prepared (or did not prepare) him for his life-changing wounds in the war and how everything that has happened to him since June 17, 1967, can be tied back to his experiences on and shortly after that day.
One theme that surfaces numerous times in the book is the lifelong influence West Point has had on Mr. Clark’s life. There is a bond among the cadets and former cadets that never failed to give the author an emotional boost when it was most needed, or helped pave the way for a career move when that was desired. This bond goes far beyond actual classmates, but spreads throughout West Point alumni. Mr. Clark describes it as a bond like no other. It is a true caring about one another.
Without being “preachy,” Mr. Clark’s overriding purpose in writing this book is to share his spiritual journey since that fateful day in 1967. He admits putting God on the back burner while at West Point. It wasn’t until his second amputation that religion became of increased interest to him. He speaks of the power of prayer. His search for a close relationship with God led him to reflect on the decisions in his life such as volunteering for duty in Vietnam, such as transferring from the Army Corps of Engineers to military intelligence, and such as requesting to be attached to a Special Forces (Green Beret) unit.
Mr. Clark talks about some of the things he learned about the Vietnamese people. He talks about how isolated he felt as an intelligence officer in the tri-border area where South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos meet because there was no one with whom he could discuss his mission. He talks about the Montagnards and the assistance many of them gave the US troops. (Incidentally, did you know that there are 15 different groups/tribes that are Montagnards?)
The book includes the struggle many – if not all – American Vietnam veterans and their loved ones and survivors have had to come to grips with: Was my sacrifice worth it? Mr. Clark describes a turning point in his grappling with that question after a chance conversation with Bill Moyers.
Reading this book gave me a better appreciation for what amputees go through – the excruciating pain, the months that their injured limbs must in some cases be in traction to stretch the skin over their raw stumps, the months of painful rehabilitation, and transitions through increasingly useful prostheses.
One thing that I especially liked about this book was how Mr. Clark involved the other people in his life. By inviting family members, fellow soldiers, medics, and friends to write their memories of the various events in his life, Mr. Clark lets the reader see those events from several points of view.
Without giving away the amazing path Mr. Clark’s life has taken since his physical recovery, let me just say that his true character comes through as he chronicles the surprising and rewarding twists and turns of his career and some of the famous people with whom he has “rubbed elbows” as he has worked for the better care and treatment of our American veterans.
In his book, Mr. Clark talks about the various kinds of healing he has experienced since June 17, 1967, and some of the soul-searching questions he has wrestled with along his journey of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. His journey continues.
Janet Morrison
Our History Project Reviewer & Freelance writer
Reviewed: Janet Morrison - OHP Staff
Nonfiction (memoir), bibliography, index, 320 pp., 2007. Zenith Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885, $24.95 plus shipping.
The title of this book attracted my attention. I had just finished reading a memoir of another Vietnam veteran and was ready to read a second one while still in that mood. Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior immediately drew me in as it opens at the defining moment in Allen Clark’s life – 4:30 a.m. on June 17, 1967, at the Special Forces camp at Dak To, Vietnam – when a North Vietnamese mortar attack resulted in the eventual loss of both of Clark’s legs.
Mr. Clark weaves the story of his life by smoothly moving from Vietnam back to his days as a West Point cadet, back to the war, and then returning to his life before Vietnam. Throughout the book he makes the connection between how his early life prepared (or did not prepare) him for his life-changing wounds in the war and how everything that has happened to him since June 17, 1967, can be tied back to his experiences on and shortly after that day.
One theme that surfaces numerous times in the book is the lifelong influence West Point has had on Mr. Clark’s life. There is a bond among the cadets and former cadets that never failed to give the author an emotional boost when it was most needed, or helped pave the way for a career move when that was desired. This bond goes far beyond actual classmates, but spreads throughout West Point alumni. Mr. Clark describes it as a bond like no other. It is a true caring about one another.
Without being “preachy,” Mr. Clark’s overriding purpose in writing this book is to share his spiritual journey since that fateful day in 1967. He admits putting God on the back burner while at West Point. It wasn’t until his second amputation that religion became of increased interest to him. He speaks of the power of prayer. His search for a close relationship with God led him to reflect on the decisions in his life such as volunteering for duty in Vietnam, such as transferring from the Army Corps of Engineers to military intelligence, and such as requesting to be attached to a Special Forces (Green Beret) unit.
Mr. Clark talks about some of the things he learned about the Vietnamese people. He talks about how isolated he felt as an intelligence officer in the tri-border area where South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos meet because there was no one with whom he could discuss his mission. He talks about the Montagnards and the assistance many of them gave the US troops. (Incidentally, did you know that there are 15 different groups/tribes that are Montagnards?)
The book includes the struggle many – if not all – American Vietnam veterans and their loved ones and survivors have had to come to grips with: Was my sacrifice worth it? Mr. Clark describes a turning point in his grappling with that question after a chance conversation with Bill Moyers.
Reading this book gave me a better appreciation for what amputees go through – the excruciating pain, the months that their injured limbs must in some cases be in traction to stretch the skin over their raw stumps, the months of painful rehabilitation, and transitions through increasingly useful prostheses.
One thing that I especially liked about this book was how Mr. Clark involved the other people in his life. By inviting family members, fellow soldiers, medics, and friends to write their memories of the various events in his life, Mr. Clark lets the reader see those events from several points of view.
Without giving away the amazing path Mr. Clark’s life has taken since his physical recovery, let me just say that his true character comes through as he chronicles the surprising and rewarding twists and turns of his career and some of the famous people with whom he has “rubbed elbows” as he has worked for the better care and treatment of our American veterans.
In his book, Mr. Clark talks about the various kinds of healing he has experienced since June 17, 1967, and some of the soul-searching questions he has wrestled with along his journey of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. His journey continues.
Janet Morrison
Our History Project Reviewer & Freelance writer
February 14, 2012
"Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior," by Allen Clark is a touching personal memoir about victory. Analogous with the Biblical story of Job, Allen Clark faced overwhelming physical, emotional, and spiritually challenging odds…and won. Mr. Clark joins the ranks of numerous other heroes that served our country, with much of his meritorious service still ongoing for our veterans through advocacy and faith based ministries. A testament to the nature of warfare, "Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior" examines the impact combat has on those men and women who experience the harshness of military conflict.
In his book, Allen Clark dramatically introduces the reader to a significant moment in his life, an intense firefight between his Special Forces base camp and the North Vietnamese Army in the Dak To region of Vietnam, June 17, 1967. It was during the chaos of the fight Allen Clark was severely injured by an enemy mortar round that exploded almost on top of him. He lost both legs that day. It was this injury that propels the reader into a journey that millions of combat veterans, regardless of country, have take...and continue to do so.
In artful prose, he uses the early chapters to juxtapose the moment of his injury with his youth, education, spiritual growth, acceptance to the United States Military Academy, marriage, and his entering the ranks of America's elite - US Army Special Forces. His writing in these chapters allows the reader to witness the evolution of a boy to a man equipped early in his life to successfully serve his God, country, and family. More important, it is clear that Allen Clark was unknowingly prepared to face and conquer the physical and emotional wounds he received on that fateful June day.
Of great relevance to wounded veterans living today, the author uses the last chapters of the book to discuss healing. We learn from Allen Clark that healing entails maximizing resources commonly available, but sadly overlooked or not adequately supported by the government that sent its greatest national treasure to battle in faraway lands and seas. The author convincingly establishes the importance of spiritual growth, family interaction, medical care, and the responsibility of the US Government to actively care for our wounded heroes.
Since the horrific day of 9-11, we continue to send our military into a spectrum of conflict that ranges from active combat to performing humanitarian missions in hostile environments. As "Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior" explains, the impact on our troops range of permanent incapacitation to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Allen Clark's testimony encourages us that victory in the form of healing is possible. Regardless if one has served in the military or not, as good citizens who benefited from what these heroes sacrificed we must surround these veterans with prayer, support, and advocacy.
"Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior" is a wonderful book. It will leave the reader proud of their country, where volunteers from every walk of life proudly serve.
LTC (ret) B.E. Allen, USA
In his book, Allen Clark dramatically introduces the reader to a significant moment in his life, an intense firefight between his Special Forces base camp and the North Vietnamese Army in the Dak To region of Vietnam, June 17, 1967. It was during the chaos of the fight Allen Clark was severely injured by an enemy mortar round that exploded almost on top of him. He lost both legs that day. It was this injury that propels the reader into a journey that millions of combat veterans, regardless of country, have take...and continue to do so.
In artful prose, he uses the early chapters to juxtapose the moment of his injury with his youth, education, spiritual growth, acceptance to the United States Military Academy, marriage, and his entering the ranks of America's elite - US Army Special Forces. His writing in these chapters allows the reader to witness the evolution of a boy to a man equipped early in his life to successfully serve his God, country, and family. More important, it is clear that Allen Clark was unknowingly prepared to face and conquer the physical and emotional wounds he received on that fateful June day.
Of great relevance to wounded veterans living today, the author uses the last chapters of the book to discuss healing. We learn from Allen Clark that healing entails maximizing resources commonly available, but sadly overlooked or not adequately supported by the government that sent its greatest national treasure to battle in faraway lands and seas. The author convincingly establishes the importance of spiritual growth, family interaction, medical care, and the responsibility of the US Government to actively care for our wounded heroes.
Since the horrific day of 9-11, we continue to send our military into a spectrum of conflict that ranges from active combat to performing humanitarian missions in hostile environments. As "Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior" explains, the impact on our troops range of permanent incapacitation to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Allen Clark's testimony encourages us that victory in the form of healing is possible. Regardless if one has served in the military or not, as good citizens who benefited from what these heroes sacrificed we must surround these veterans with prayer, support, and advocacy.
"Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior" is a wonderful book. It will leave the reader proud of their country, where volunteers from every walk of life proudly serve.
LTC (ret) B.E. Allen, USA
December 29, 2007
Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior, A Personal Story of a Vietnam Veteran Who Lost His Legs but Found His Soul, is a book awash in tears, tradition, and the times. I began this local hero’s story with the introduction by great American patriot Ross Perot, having purchased the book in part because of the introduction by Mr. Perot, whom I admire, and in part because of its proclaimed goal to help wounded soldiers returning home from the current war against terror. Anticipatory sorrow began with foreshadow of the physical suffering and mental anguish that I knew would come. It did. Certainly the anti-military/war movement contributed to the pain of this brave American patriot and his family. There are lines tucked away here and there written as if to apologize for a youthful sense of duty and pride and for participation in the Vietnam War, a war that was to liberate a people invaded by evil communists. No apology needed! Each of us owes a debt to Captain Clark and to all who serve our great Nation. It is a debt that we cannot hope to repay and often only through our prayers are we able to offer our support and gratitude. The book is truly a natural testimony to the healing power of the Lord and how God uses our life’s experiences and challenges to train and test us, and to develop fruitfulness in our life-journey to Him. Alan Clark stands tall as a Christian Warrior and a man whose sacrifices and service may inspire all of us to fight the good fight.
“This is not just another book about the Vietnam War. It is about the spiritual war that we fight on a daily basis---the war between good and evil and the battle for our very souls. I wrote this book for the purpose of telling you that there is victory----victory that brings peace, forgiveness and promise….no matter your own personal battle, Christ’s love can bring healing and victory.”
Captain Allen Clark (Ret.) 2007
“This is not just another book about the Vietnam War. It is about the spiritual war that we fight on a daily basis---the war between good and evil and the battle for our very souls. I wrote this book for the purpose of telling you that there is victory----victory that brings peace, forgiveness and promise….no matter your own personal battle, Christ’s love can bring healing and victory.”
Captain Allen Clark (Ret.) 2007
July 31, 2015
Allen Clark's incredible autobiography is a story of service since he was a young boy in Texas. I feel a real afinity for Mr. Clark, since I also felt a "calling" to West Point at a young age. Mr. Clark volunteered for some of the most dangerous duty in Vietnam, when he could have continued in a relatively safe staff job in Saigon. And he suffered very much for answering what he felt was a call to hazardous duty that he had trained for his entire young life. Allen Clark went through his struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when physicians we just understanding it's implications. As many of our soldiers are returning from Afghanistan and Iraq severely injured both physically and mentally, Allen's story of perseverence and success over adversity, supported and guided by his religious faith, is equally important today. This should be required reading for every individual working at our VA and military hospitals, caring for this current generation of wounded veterans.
January 21, 2013
I appreciate Mr Clark sharing his tragic Vietnam story and how the tragedy brought him closer to Christ. I am disappointed he didn't share more about his depression and what worked to get him out of it. Likewise the two other trials in his life divorce and bankruptcy are given only a few paragraphs. We hear about so many returning warriors that have family and financial problems. Some insight to maybe why I would like to have seen. Excellent Battle Plan in the last chapter. Also would like to have learned more how his current ministry Combat Faith Ministry came about.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews