Overview of #317 Johnnie Clark - Surviving One of the Deadliest Jobs During the Vietnam War
In this episode of the Shawn Ryan Show, Marine Corps veteran Johnnie Clark recounts his poverty-stricken childhood, his decision to enlist at 17, and his brutal combat experience in Vietnam as an M60 machine gunner with the 5th Marines. Clark describes the extreme danger of being a machine gunner in the Vietnam War, the battles around Huế and Troy Bridge, the burden of combat trauma, and the lifelong impact of those experiences. He also shares how faith, martial arts, writing, and family became central to his recovery and purpose after the war.
Key Topics Discussed
Early Life and the Pull Toward the Marines
- Grew up in severe poverty in South Charleston, West Virginia, with a disabled father and a struggling single mother.
- Lost his father at age 10, but says his father’s later conversion to Christianity profoundly shaped the whole family.
- Became fascinated with the Marine Corps as a child, largely because of a Marine uncle and WWII-era hero stories and films.
- Joined the Marine Corps at 17, against his mother’s wishes.
Boot Camp, Vietnam, and Becoming a Machine Gunner
- Enlisted in 1967 and went through Marine training, machine gun school, and jungle warfare training.
- Was assigned as an M60 machine gunner with the 5th Marines in Vietnam.
- Describes machine gunners as immediate targets in combat, with a survival window of only seconds once a firefight began.
- Explains the critical role of tracers, suppressive fire, and keeping the M60 functioning in jungle conditions.
Combat in Vietnam: Huế, Troy Bridge, and “Three-Man Killer Teams”
- Arrived in Vietnam during the Huế fighting, though he says he was mostly on the fringes as the battle was winding down.
- Recounts a major fight at Troy Bridge, an important crossing on Highway 1, where enemy forces attempted to overrun the bridge.
- Shares stories of brutal patrols, ambushes, and small recon/killer teams used to intercept NVA units.
- Describes the constant fear, exhaustion, and improvisation required to survive in the field.
First Kill, Combat Trauma, and Moral Injury
- Talks candidly about his first kill and how it stayed with him.
- Recalls an especially haunting encounter involving a wounded female enemy fighter and another instance where a female combatant was discovered after a bunker assault.
- Explains how those experiences contributed to severe combat fatigue and long-term psychological strain.
- Shares that he later lost all his hair in a single night, which he associates with intense stress and trauma.
Brotherhood, Faith, and the Role of Chan
- Highlights his close friendship with a Chinese-American Marine nicknamed Chan, who was brilliant, deeply religious, and served alongside him throughout the war.
- Chan helped him interpret scripture, stay grounded, and process fear.
- Clark presents faith as a practical source of strength in combat, not just a postwar belief system.
The “Psalm 121” Miracle and Spiritual Turning Point
One of the most important parts of the interview is Clark’s testimony about a life-changing encounter with God years after the war.
The North Carolina Mountain Experience
- While struggling with PTSD/combat fatigue, he went alone to the mountains near Montreat/Black Mountain, North Carolina, to spend time with God.
- On a trail, he says he became frozen mid-step and then heard an audible voice telling him to “walk a little farther” with the Lord.
- He continued hiking and found a plaque with Psalm 121:
- “I lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”
- Clark says this was an unmistakable confirmation from God and one of the most powerful moments of his life.
Why Psalm 121 Matters to Him
- The same verse had appeared earlier in his writing and had also been meaningful to Mitchell Page, a Marine he interviewed for his book research.
- He sees the repeated appearance of Psalm 121 as divine confirmation that God was guiding his life and healing process.
Writing Guns Up and Honoring Vietnam Veterans
Why He Wrote It
- Clark says he wrote Guns Up out of anger after seeing how Vietnam veterans were treated and how the war was misunderstood.
- He wanted to set the record straight about what Marines were actually doing in Vietnam.
- He originally wrote it for his children so they would know the truth.
The Publishing Miracle
- The book was rejected repeatedly for years.
- After he rewrote it without profanity, multiple magazines suddenly accepted excerpts that had been buried in slush piles for years.
- Within a month, nine publishers were interested, and Random House ultimately published the book.
- Clark views the whole process as a miracle and evidence that honoring God changed the outcome.
Impact of the Book
- Guns Up has remained in print for decades and became widely respected in military circles.
- He shares that Vietnam veterans and their families have contacted him over the years, often because the book helped them understand what happened to loved ones.
- The book became a way for him to honor the men he served with, many of whom he describes as heroes who deserved far more recognition.
Postwar Life, Martial Arts, and Family
Recovery and Career
- After being wounded in Vietnam, Clark recovered in Okinawa, where he began martial arts as part of rehabilitation.
- He later became an 8th Dan Grandmaster of Taekwondo, taught at the University of South Florida, and conducted hand-to-hand combat seminars at West Point and the Naval Academy.
- He has written nine books, including Guns Up and Gunner’s Glory.
Family Life
- Married for 49 years.
- Has children and grandchildren, and says the grandkids have brought a lot of joy and energy into his life.
- Remains close with surviving siblings and values family as part of his healing and legacy.
Notable Takeaways
- Vietnam machine gunners were uniquely exposed: Clark emphasizes how quickly enemy fire targeted M60 teams.
- Faith helped him survive both war and trauma: Scripture, prayer, and a growing relationship with Christ became central to his life.
- Writing can be a mission, not just a career: He encourages people to write for family and truth, not fame or money.
- Trauma can show up decades later: Clark’s story underscores how deeply combat experiences can affect veterans long after the war.
- Service and brotherhood endure: His relationships with fellow Marines, especially Chan and those tied to Guns Up, remain a major part of his identity.
Final Thought
This conversation is part war memoir, part testimony, and part legacy project. Johnnie Clark comes across as a tough, humble Marine who survived one of the most dangerous jobs in Vietnam, carried the weight of that war for decades, and ultimately found meaning through faith, family, and telling the truth about what he and his fellow Marines endured.