Six Years in a North Vietnam Prison Camp

ACIR is honored to host Col (USAF. Ret.) John W. Clark, former RF-4 pilot and Vietnam War prisoner, who will speak on the topic, "Six Years in a North Vietnam Prison Camp."

Nearly 600 American servicemen struggled as Prisoners of War in North Vietnam. One of them was Colonel John Clark. Hear him speak about how courage, determination, faith, and honor helped them survive.

About Colonel John W. Clark (Ret.) U.S. Air Force

Colonel John Clark is a native and current resident of Columbia, Missouri. During the Vietnam War, Colonel Clark was shot down while on a tactical reconnaissance flight over North Vietnam. He was captured, spent six years as a Prisoner of War (POW) in North Vietnam and was released on February 18, 1973.

Upon repatriation Captain Clark joined his family in Columbia. He separated from active duty and joined the reserves and in 1979 the Missouri Air National Guard. While in the Air National Guard he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and has held the positions of Commander of the 131 Civil Engineering Squadron, State Director of Operations for Air, State Plans and Programs Officer and for two years prior to his retirement from the Air National Guard in January of 1992 he commanded the 231st Civil Engineering Flight, an elite United States Air Forces in Europe gained Command Staff Augmentation Unit. 

Colonel Clark's decorations and awards include among others the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, the Meritorious Service Medal, six Air Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal and two Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses.