Pilot Follows In Father's Footsteps

The weather on January 10, 1973 was overcast as Navy Lt. Michael McCormick, an A-6 Intruder pilot, and Lt. j.g. Robert Clark, a bombardier navigator, stepped out to their plane and prepared for a mission over North Vietnam. It would be their last one -- forever.

It was the last mission Attack Squadron 115 would support with its A-6 Intruders, and it was strictly for volunteers. The next day, McCormick, Clark and all USS Midway sailors were to head back toward friendly waters and return to their families. For Clark, it would be a particularly wonderful homecoming because he would get to hold his 2-month-old son for the first time.

Two A-6s took off from the USS Midway that day, but at the end of flight operations, only one of them returned. The details surrounding the disappearance of McCormick and Clark's plane are unclear. Even 30 years later, little is known about what actually happened. For 10 months, AS 115, aboard the USS Midway, had been launching A-6 Intruders off its deck, supporting B-52 Stratofortress air strikes over North Vietnam. According to reports filed through the Homecoming II Project, there was intense surface-to-air missile activity that day. Twelve surface-to-air missiles were launched at B-52s, and three were launched at the A-6s. Radio contact between McCormick and his wingman was lost. Early search and rescue missions did not reveal any crash sites.

"I was acquainted with a number of officers at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (WA) who manned the A-6A squadrons deployed on Pacific Fleet carriers," said Dave Anderson, a Vietnam veteran assigned to AS 145 on the USS Ranger.

"I lived across the street from Robert Clark, who was lost just weeks before the cease-fire," said Anderson. "He left behind a son that he never saw."

The son Robert Clark (above) left behind would grow up without a father, but not without the influence of a father figure always in his life. Capt. Tad "TC" Clark, a 29-year-old pilot with the 35th Fighter Squadron, grew up with a strong mother, who was full of memories, and friends who served with his father and were full of stories. "My father is presumed killed in action," said Clark. "His plane was the last Navy jet lost in Vietnam. My mom obviously considers my dad the greatest thing since sliced bread. She's proud of the fact that her husband did something noble with his life."

She was not surprised when at an early age her son began expressing the desire to fly. From the days when his dreams were nothing more than crayon sketches of planes to the moment he entered pilot training, flying was his ultimate goal. "Tad always wanted to be a fighter pilot as soon as he understood what being a pilot was," said Tonya Clark, widow of Robert and mother of Tad. "I have always supported him in this."

According to the younger Clark (right), everything he has done up to this point has led to this. In high school he worked diligently to make the grades in order to get accepted into the Air Force Academy. His goal at the academy was to get a pilot slot. At pilot training, his goal was to fly F-16 Fighting Falcons. At F-16 training, his goal was to train for war. Most days when Clark climbs into a jet, he is so focused on the mission thoughts of his father do not cross his mind, but then again, sometimes they do.

"There have been times I've been here flying low level with fog coming off the mountain and the rice paddies below that I think 'this must be similar to what it looked like flying in Vietnam,'" said Clark. "But truthfully, what we do now isn't even close to what my dad and others who served in Vietnam had to put up with. Now it's popular, even embraced, to be in the military." But it was the sense of duty displayed by those he grew up with that drove him in the direction of military service.

"Each of us has a background and story," said Clark. "We all have friends and loved ones who have endured the hardships of war." A new chapter of his story began at Luke Air Force Base (AZ), when he took control of his first F-16.

"When the lists of assignments came out at Luke and I saw that Kunsan was on the list, I immediately knew that's where I wanted to go," said Clark. "I thought it'd be neat to be in the vicinity of where (my dad) is." Becoming a mission-ready F-16 pilot with Kunsan's "Wolf Pack," however, is only part of the total experience.

"It's exciting to be part of a group of people who are willing to make the same sacrifice," Clark said. Clark's mother understands that sacrifice.

"I couldn't think of too many other things in life that a mother could be prouder of than having her son willing to put his life on the line for others and for the cause of freedom, no matter where it is in the world," said Tonya. That sentiment has been instilled in Clark throughout his life, and though there was sadness growing up without a father, he feels grateful for all his father's spirit has given him.

"In some ways I have missed out, but I am blessed to have had a father who has affected my life in such a meaningful way," he said. "He stood for something, and did something honorable with his life. Many kids grow up with fathers who are there every day, but don't have that kind of impact."

Clark looks forward to passing the same patriotic values his parents gave him on to his children. "I think this has all given me a unique perspective on having a family," he said. "It's important to make every second count and wake up every day thanking God for what you do have."
[Thanks to 1st Lt. Heather Healy, 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs --ed.]

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