MAJOR WILLIAM D. CLARK (then Captain), Infantry, United States Army. Major Clark, a member of an infantry battalion, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Mungdungni, Korea. On 7 October 1051, a friendly infantry company was engaged in an attack against a numerically superior hostile force occupying heavily fortified hill positions. As the friendly troops neared their objective, they were subjected to a mortar and artillery barrage, couple with a heavy volume of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire from the enemy positions. With the company commander and all company officers wounded by the intense hostile fire, the friendly troops, most of whom were inexperienced and under fire for the first time, became disorganized. Realizing that the confusion of men might result in their annihilation and that, without an organized effort, the attack was lost, Major Clark immediately rushed forward through the heavy enemy fire and assumed command of the faltering friendly troops. Through his self-confident manner and personal example of fearlessness, he rallied the men and led them forward in a renewed assault. Although he was painfully wounded by the fire pouring down from the hostile emplacements, Major Clark refused to be evacuated. Directing the friendly troops, he continually urged them onward with words of encouragement. His great tactical skill and complete disregard for his personal safety so inspired the friendly troops that they swept forward and routed the hostile force from the hill with heavy casualties. The extraordinary heroism and completely selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Clark throughout this action reflect the greatest credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Major Clark joined the L.O.V. in 1989 as a life member and resides in Maryland.