Johnnie Clark is an American author and Vietnam Veteran, best known for his 1984 Vietnam War memoir Guns Up!. Many of his works fall into the genre of non-fiction military and contain a tough, no nonsense portrayal of combat, courage, and camaraderie. Mr. Clark joined the Marine Corps at 17 years of age after graduating from St. Petersburg High School. He served as a machine gunner with the famed 5th Marine Regiment during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. He was wounded 3 times, mortar round, grenade, and gunshot. During his rehabilitation from gunshot wounds in Okinawa, Mr. Clark began training in Martial Arts as part of his rehab program. In 2015 Mr. Clark returned from Korea after testing for his 8th Dan in Tae Kwon Do. He was also promoted to 9th Dan in the Ji Do Kwan. Grandmaster Clark owns and operates Johnnie Clark Tae Kwon Do and Judo school in St. Petersburg and has been inducted into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Mr. Clark’s books, Guns Up! and Semper Fidelis, are recommended reading by Lt. Col. Madonna, former MCG, to all newly commissioned officers at The Basic School. His books have been required reading in many colleges and high schools around the country as well as the Commandant’s List of suggested reading for all Marines. Many commanders have distributed Mr. Clark’s books to our troops now fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is the recipient of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association Brigadier General Robert L. Denig Memorial Distinguished Service Award for writing. Mr. Clark has been awarded America’s 3rd highest medal for bravery and gallantry in combat, The Silver Star, 3 Purple Hearts, Vietnam’s highest Medal of Honor, The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, The Civil Action Combat Medal, The Marine Combat Ribbon among other decorations. Mr. Clark currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Nancy, and dog, Gunner. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkoujZQZatbqy4KGcgjpVxQ/join Shawn Ryan Show Links SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ShawnRyanShow Sign up: https://shawnryanshow.com/pages/newsletter Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/VigilanceElite Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shawn-ryan-show/id1492492083 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eodRZd3qR9VT1ip1wI7xQ?si=59f9d106e56a4509 Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnryanshow Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/@shawnryanshow Follow on X: https://twitter.com/ShawnRyanShow SRS Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4pqo9Uoh0WuUKxw0BmaK1yrg9Kd7E4lk #vigilanceelite #shawnryanshow Johnnie Clark Links: FB - https://www.facebook.com/authorjohnnieclark IG - https://www.instagram.com/johnniemclark Website - https://johnnieclark.com Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Go right now to https://sundaysfordogs.com/SRS50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code SRS50 at checkout. Ready to upgrade your eyewear? Check them out at https://roka.com and use code SRS for 20% off sitewide. Our listeners get the Harry’s Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://www.Harrys.com/SRS #harryspod New customers get 15% off Ultra Pouches with code SRS at https://takeultra.com! #UltraPouches #ad Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at https://shopify.com/srs 0:00 Welcome and Introduction 14:01 Growing Up in Poverty 26:20 Enlisting in the Marines 39:25 First Days in Vietnam 53:24 Meeting Big Red 01:09:51 The Battle of Troy Bridge 01:23:28 First Kill & Combat Reality 01:37:48 Mercy, Loss & Moral Injury 01:53:38 Rediscovering Valor Years Later 02:05:33 Back Into Combat 02:15:27 Dodge City Graveyard Ambush 02:30:51 Writing Gunner's Glory 02:42:57 Race to the Last Gun 02:53:39 Breaking Point & Healing 03:09:36 Signs, Faith & Recovery 03:21:38 The Moral Spiral After War 03:32:13 Guardian Angels & Miracles 03:47:19 The Miracle of Guns Up 04:00:54 Finding Peace & Family 04:14:46 Firing the M60 Again