Adams, Clark, SFC

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
I grew up on Air Force Bases and always knew that I would serve in one of the branches of the US military.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
After spending a number of years as a Medic I decided to become a Physician Assistant(PA). I twice applied to the US Army PA School and failed to be accepted and after being accepted into multiple civilian PA schools I left the Army in 1985.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I never deployed for anything other than routine peacetime military operations. That said, we often had serious injuries or even deaths during the exercises.

We Medics were called upon to treat illness and injuries in garrison or the field. Assisting our battalion PA treat injuries convinced me to become a PA.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
While there were serious injuries and even deaths in various units I served in, I never experienced any imminent threat to my life.

During a Shiite uprising in Saudi Arabia in 1979 we were told by the Chief of the Training mission that no one in the room was worth a war and we were on our on if the situation deteriorated as no outside help could be counted on.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My assignment to DeWitt Army Hospital renewed my faith in the Army after my 3 bad years in Germany. I made friends for life there and worked with good caring leaders.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The greatest event during my service which has brought me joy almost daily was meeting my wife to be while stationed at Ft lee, VA. We have two sons and 43 years together.

She has supported me during the hard times and celebrated with me during the good times in our life together. She and our sons motivated me to seek out greater opportunities to advance myself.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
I was awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) in 1975 along with 13 other platoon mates from HHC 1/7 Inf. We set a record for the number of awardees from one platoon in the 3ID at the time.

I was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal for my service in the 9ID prior to my separation to attend the University of Washington's MEDEX NW PA program.

My German Bundeswehr Sch?tzenschnur in Bronze is one of my prized awards from my time in Germany. Graduating #8 out of 60 students from AMEDD Basic NCOES was a proud moment for me.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The Expert Feld Medical Badge and the Bundeswehr Sch?tzenschnur both attest to my demonstrated skills.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Two people are at the top of the list 1SG Charles R. Dekle (ret) and CW2 Loyd A. Wetmore sadly both are now deceased.

First Sergeant Dekle was my Platoon Sergeant while I was assigned to HHC 1/7th Infantry 3ID. Then SFC Dekle was my mentor , disciplinarian and eventually friend. He kept me from throwing away unknown future opportunities by guiding me away from bad situations some of my own making.

Mister Wetmore was our Battalion PA who demonstrated skill and confidence in his duties that challenged me to emulate his performance of duty. He supported my efforts to advance my skills and saw my potential to become a PA.I can say that without them looking out for me, I doubt that I would have had the success in life that I've had.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
Joe Rivas, Mark Ryckman served with me in HHC 1/7 Inf Aschaffenburg, FRG as Medics to this day I consider them true friends. We enjoyed spending time in the field and garrison solving the world's problems. Mark and his wife Tanya were the first people we trusted to baby sit our first child. We are still in touch with each other regularly.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Driving on the autobahn in Germany with newly arrived Soldiers and watching them cringe. I recall my vehicle breaking down leaving Hohenfels and having to ride back in the Company Commander's 151. As we were traveling on the autobahn at the 45 mph "convoy speed" a five ton wrecker blew by us towing a deuce and a half. My CO yelled "get those bumper numbers"! I replied Sir that's HQ 46. The deuce and a half was my vehicle being towed by or recovery section!

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
Physician Assistant

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I'm in the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans along with the 3rd & 9th Infantry Division Associations. The American Legion helped me with my VA Claim difficulties when I applied for the Vocational Rehabilitation program.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
I can say that having served in the US Army taught me how to maneuver through bureaucracy, organize my thoughts while angry and keep a civil tongue in my head. I can put up with a lot more aggravation than a lot of my non veteran friends are able to do. I look back a see that no matter how poorly a supervisor treats me as a civilian, I've been treated much worse and I can handle it.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Joining the military is not a good thing for everyone. I say that joining the military will give you time to think about what you want in life, but also give you the chance to decide that the military is or isn't it!

While you can go to every school that you are qualified to attend, take advantage of after hours college level classes, use CLEP and DANTES programs at the Education Center. You should leave the military better educated and skilled than when you arrived. Drugs and or alcohol abuse are dead end pathways in or out of the military avoid them and those who use or abuse them.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
I had to think back and reflect on my activities form 46 years ago to present. Scratched open a few scars relived some joy and pains.

KC 10/29/18