Page 48 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Lubbock Online Magazine
P. 48
On Christmas Day, 1969, Clarence 1975, I married Lillie Williams My last job was with the Adcock
arrived at the Naval Hospital who had six children. I moved Gin in Lamesa. I was a truck
in Yokosuka, Japan. “I stayed around and worked various jobs driver with them for 15 years.
there for six or seven months. in Lubbock, Midland and Odessa. Lillie passed away in 2013.”
Then I was sent to Camp Butler I tried to get disability for my
in Okinawa. I was assigned to a injuries from the VA for several Clarence was 21 when he got
casualty company and was still years. I was at the VA Hospital to Vietnam, but many were
recovering from my wounds. I in Big Spring in the 1980s when younger, and his recollection
was there for six or seven weeks I saw the address for President that, “Everyone was scared” is
until I healed up. The Marine Ronald Reagan on a bulletin surely valid. Five men killed in
Corps had told my parents that board. I wrote him an 18-page Vietnam were just 16 years old. Of
I was MIA (Missing in Action). letter, telling him my story and the over 58,000 killed, 61% were
They were quite relieved to find how I hadn’t been able to get any younger than 21. Over 11,000 of
out that I was still alive.” For his disability payments. A few weeks those killed were younger than
service and sacrifice in Vietnam, later, someone called me from 20. But Clarence doesn’t regret his
Clarence’s awards include two the VA Hospital and asked, ‘Are service. On the contrary, he puts
Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, you the one that sent a letter to it in perspective. “The military
the National Defense Medal and President Reagan?’ I said, ‘Yes, I took away my years as a young
the Vietnam Service Medal. “After am.’ A government representative man, but I have lived a great life,”
a 30-day leave, I came back to came to Big Spring to visit with and, on further reflection, “Every
Oceanside, California where I me about the letter. Within two or young man should serve in the
worked as a cook and then as head three weeks, I received a big check military.” Maybe it was facing
chef. I got out of the Marines on in the mail for my disabilities and their fears that turned the boys
November 5, 1971.” have been on disability ever since. into men. “Being brave isn’t the
I worked for Cooper Construction absence of fear... (it) is having that
After leaving the service, Clarence for several years, then the City of fear but finding a way through it.”
married Jacqueline Barber with Lamesa in the Water Department. – Bear Grylls
whom he had two children. “In
48 Lubbock Senior Link
