The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the honorable Ray Mabus, recently presented retired Chief Petty Officer Carl E. Clark, a U.S. Navy World War II veteran, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device for his heroic efforts during the war – 66 years later. On May 3, 1945, Clark extinguished many fires aboard the destroyer minelayer USS Aaron Ward (DM 34) and carried wounded shipmates to medical aid after the ship underwent an attack from six kamikaze pilots during the Battle of Okinawa. Clark talks about his service in the Navy, including harrowing details about serving aboard Aaron Ward during the Kamikaze planes attack on the ship, which caused the loss of more than 40 of his shipmate’s lives. This clip is an excerpt from the documentary, “Remembering World War II: First-Person Accounts” by Foothill College.
While talking with the now, 95-year-old Clark prior to the awards ceremony to honor his actions, Mabus delivered a special message to the WWII veteran.
