Final Draft of Lt Dan. (Untitled)

In 1967, the United States government drafted Dan Clifford to fight in Vietnam in defense of American ideals. When asked forty years later how he felt, he replies, “angry, but it was the best decision I ever made.” Clifford, a reserved story teller that often does not elaborate past the facts, becomes excited when recalling “the best decision” he ever made. “The decision,” applying to Officer Candidate School upon receiving his draft notice.

Drafted as an enlisted soldier, Clifford utilized his recently obtained college degree to enter the Officer Candidate School (OCS), an organization that educated him in organization and leadership. Over three years, Clifford prepared to lead a detachment of his countrymen. Knowledge Clifford gained during his training serves him well to this day when administering to his community, his true passion.

Military service changed the course of Clifford’s life and directed him to his job as a Public Administrator in Wayne County. Clifford states, “There is nothing I would rather be doing.” When describing the course of his life, Clifford, usually reserved, quickly excites to describe his civic duties. Contrasting the detailed description of his less threatening responsibilities, in Wayne County, stories of the War in Vietnam lack the detail many would expect from such a stressful and exciting experience. Understanding the mentality of this young man, sent unwillingly to war, remains difficult when speaking to Clifford.

Clifford tells the story of his Vietnamese experience that is extraordinarily similar to the character, Lt. Dan, in the movie, “Forest Gump.” Lt. Dan Clifford’s personality, however, starkly contrasts the fictional character that eagerly charged into battle awaiting the day that he could die on the battle field.

Clifford first arrived in Vietnam in February of ’70. Armed with two weapons: a gun and the rank of Lieutenant, he commands a platoon that effectively contributed to the deracination of localized Viet Kong by utilizing “vastly superior American fire power.” Clifford quickly describes his first three months of fighting in Vietnam without any great elaboration. However, Clifford often comments on the unequaled American fire power that fostered a secure sense of safety in the Lieutenant.

Lt. Dan fulfilled his duties as a platoon commander by maintaining a well disciplined combat unit. Lt. Dan recalls one negative incident in his unit, “three of his soldiers smoked marijuana.” Such situations required immediate attention from a collected leader to avoid physical risk to the platoon. The description of the event decades later still contains just the facts that characterize the majority of Lt. Dan’s Vietnam war stories.

Lt. Dan’s service became much more exciting on April 25, 1970, the President of the United States ordered troops into Cambodia. On May 4, 1970, this command would result in the deaths of nine and wounding of four at Kent State University. This is an interesting note that Clifford shares to highlight the social volatility that awaited his return to the United States.

When asked about his feelings regarding the deaths of three of his men, he simply says, after being asked twice, “We did not really talk about it.” A short pause after this statement gave a feeling of sentimental recollection. Unemotional description of his tour on rare occasions gave way to excited stories of relatively mundane events. During Lt. Dan’s description of his tour in Vietnam, only twice did the stolid story come to life with enthusiasm in his voice.

June of ’70 Lt. Dan’s platoon entered the most deadly ambush organized by the Viet Kong against their platoon since arriving in the combat zone. Bullets whizzed through the air inches above them. Lt. Dan and his platoon use what little cover they can scramble to while firing their unmatched American weaponry. Suddenly, a grenade exploded enveloping Lt. Dan with shrapnel. The subsequent wounds rendered his arm useless for the remainder of his combat career. Nevertheless, the collected commander with a robotic sense of logical rationale continued his role without showing signs of fear, that he claims never crossed his mind. A B-52 flew over head delivering its massive ordinance on the enemy. In true Lt. Dan fashion, the battle description lacks excitement but the anticipation he felt to glimpse the B-52 resonates unmistakably in his voice. He describes the excitement that rushed through his mind as the massive 2000 lbs bombs explode on the enemy positions rattling the earth like an earth quake.
As a result of Lt. Dan’s injury, the United States Army filed his honorable discharge. The Lieutenant makes the journey from a Vietnamese hospital to Japan on his way back to America. Clifford requested to reenter the United States through the state of Washington, a state he never before visited. This final description of Clifford’s Vietnamese odyssey brings an emotional description of his return to the United States, the country he nearly died for.

Clifford did not perceive the war in Vietnam as his opportunity for excitement. Taking pleasure in the simple things that many often dismiss gives Clifford excitement. Just a man that desired the peace and calm of a constructive life style, Clifford took as much as he could from what many considered one of the worst experiences of their lives. Now Clifford puts the knowledge he gained while doing his unavoidable duty to productive use, creating a better Wayne County and improving the lives of his fellow Americans. The events could not be changed, only dealt with and the virtuous individual, Clifford, made the best of bad situation.