This week’s Veteran is Jesse Clark, who served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1955. Mr. Clark was at the Dedication of the Historic Texas Cemetery Marker at the Conroe Community Cemetery on Tenth Street on February 15th. Jesse is the descendent of Neil Williams, who is buried at the black cemetery, and sadly passed away at around 25 years of age. Clark joined the Army at 17 years old to help bring some income to help his Mother care for his siblings. And like all guys when joining the service, he was disappointed when his afro was cut off. Mr. Jesse in-processed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, then completed his basic training at Camp Roberts, California. After basic training Jesse went to the Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he learned to jump out of perfectly good airplanes. In total, Mr. Clark had 23 jumps, which was his favorite activity in the Army. Jesse also went to Panama for Jungle Survival School, where he learned to live off the land, being able to get water from trees, and eat from whatever is available from the jungle. Even pulling a leg off of a land crab is a little snack. Don’t worry they grow back. In Colón City, where the canal is located, Mr. Clark was at a restaurant having a chicken dinner, when he was told he was having iguana, which evidently tastes the same as the bird. Jesse reports that Panamanian weed is much stronger than American weed, that he may or may not have tried, “but it is much stronger,” he said, according to the person who gave it to him. He hasn’t had any smoke or drink in over 60 years, Mr. Clark noted. At Fort Bragg, NC., Jesse was a Combat Construction Specialist, and Demolition Specialist, but not at the same time. He would have had orders to the Korean conflict, but he spent so much time in training, that the hostilities were halted before he could build, or destroy any stuff. After leaving the service Mr. Clark worked in the lumber and construction industry, and a barber, while starting his family. If you ever cross the old Galveston Causeway Bridge (not the train bridge) he helped build it. Jesse had a problem with alcohol in the early 1960s, but the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston, his young Family, and God, helped him recover; and Mr. Clark hasn’t touched the stuff in over 60 years. Afterwards, Jesse was drawn closer to God, and has been the Pastor of Western Grove Baptist Church in New Waverly for over 50 years. He also owned Clark Bait & Tackle in New Waverly near the lake. Mr. Clark is 91 years old, and still gets around OK with his trusty cane, with a positively infectious attitude. Good Luck Jesse, and Congratulations on being MCNs ‘Veteran of the Week’.
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