1 00:00:17,101 --> 00:00:29,341 Speaker 1: Pushkin. It was Sassur Day in Brazoria County, Texas. A 2 00:00:29,381 --> 00:00:31,941 Speaker 1: young man with dark skin and dark hair stood in 3 00:00:31,941 --> 00:00:35,340 Speaker 1: front of a cheering crowd. He wore sunglasses in a 4 00:00:35,341 --> 00:00:40,340 Speaker 1: perfectly pressed uniform. A metal gleamed around his neck. The 5 00:00:40,421 --> 00:00:43,901 Speaker 1: date was March twenty seventh, nineteen sixty nine, and he 6 00:00:44,021 --> 00:00:47,101 Speaker 1: was back from the war in Vietnam. His name was 7 00:00:47,101 --> 00:00:51,461 Speaker 1: Clarence Sassar. He was just twenty one, and this day, 8 00:00:51,941 --> 00:00:57,261 Speaker 1: Sassur Day, was all about celebrating him. Clarence waved and 9 00:00:57,421 --> 00:01:01,221 Speaker 1: smiled as news photographers took his picture. He shook hands 10 00:01:01,221 --> 00:01:04,821 Speaker 1: with county officials, and four jets from the Texas National 11 00:01:04,821 --> 00:01:09,781 Speaker 1: Guard flew overhead in a salute. Clarence had served as 12 00:01:09,781 --> 00:01:12,821 Speaker 1: a medic with the ninth Division of the Army. He 13 00:01:12,941 --> 00:01:16,381 Speaker 1: left his tiny farming community as a part time college student, 14 00:01:16,860 --> 00:01:21,420 Speaker 1: and he returned a celebrity. Reporters followed him as he 15 00:01:21,461 --> 00:01:25,060 Speaker 1: greeted local dignitaries and fans. He was given an oil 16 00:01:25,101 --> 00:01:30,380 Speaker 1: portrait of himself, plaques and citations, government bonds, and honorary 17 00:01:30,461 --> 00:01:34,261 Speaker 1: citizenship to the nearby city of Houston, and then the 18 00:01:34,301 --> 00:01:37,741 Speaker 1: crowd crammed into a high school gymnasium. They wanted to 19 00:01:37,741 --> 00:01:41,420 Speaker 1: hear their hometown heroes speak, but it didn't seem like 20 00:01:41,461 --> 00:01:46,661 Speaker 1: he wanted to. Newspapers noted it later, how uncomfortable Clarence 21 00:01:46,661 --> 00:01:51,741 Speaker 1: Sassar felt, how quiet he was that day. He didn't 22 00:01:51,741 --> 00:01:55,141 Speaker 1: say anything about his action in Vietnam, the one that 23 00:01:55,261 --> 00:01:58,581 Speaker 1: decorated him with the Medal of Honor, and he wouldn't 24 00:01:59,221 --> 00:02:06,701 Speaker 1: for years. I'm j R. Martinez and this is Medal 25 00:02:06,701 --> 00:02:10,381 Speaker 1: of Honor, Stories of Courage. The Medal of Honor is 26 00:02:10,421 --> 00:02:14,341 Speaker 1: the highest military decoration in the United States. It's awarded 27 00:02:14,381 --> 00:02:17,701 Speaker 1: for gallantree and bravery and combat at the risk of life, 28 00:02:17,781 --> 00:02:21,621 Speaker 1: above and beyond the call of duty. Each candidate must 29 00:02:21,661 --> 00:02:23,701 Speaker 1: be approved all the way up the chain of command, 30 00:02:24,021 --> 00:02:27,221 Speaker 1: from the supervisory officer in the field to the White House. 31 00:02:28,141 --> 00:02:31,341 Speaker 1: This show is about those heroes, what they did, what 32 00:02:31,381 --> 00:02:34,181 Speaker 1: it meant, and what their stories tell us about the 33 00:02:34,301 --> 00:02:39,141 Speaker 1: nature of courage and sacrifice. Now, the Medal of Honor 34 00:02:39,261 --> 00:02:42,381 Speaker 1: is all about heroism on the battlefield, but that's not 35 00:02:42,421 --> 00:02:47,421 Speaker 1: where heroism ends, because the medal also requires a different 36 00:02:47,541 --> 00:02:50,781 Speaker 1: kind of bravery from its recipients. It asked them to 37 00:02:50,861 --> 00:02:54,701 Speaker 1: talk about the hardest day of their lives over and 38 00:02:54,901 --> 00:02:59,141 Speaker 1: over and over again. It took a long time for 39 00:02:59,221 --> 00:03:02,141 Speaker 1: Clarence Sasser to be willing to revisit that day in Vietnam. 40 00:03:02,781 --> 00:03:05,781 Speaker 1: When you hear his story, I think you'll understand why. 41 00:03:06,621 --> 00:03:09,501 Speaker 1: He finally shared all the details on tape in two 42 00:03:09,501 --> 00:03:12,381 Speaker 1: thousand and three, when he was in his late fifties, 43 00:03:13,261 --> 00:03:16,581 Speaker 1: Even though more than thirty years had passed, he was 44 00:03:16,621 --> 00:03:17,781 Speaker 1: still uncomfortable. 45 00:03:18,581 --> 00:03:21,261 Speaker 2: Well, let's just get it over with. Let's just get 46 00:03:21,301 --> 00:03:24,181 Speaker 2: it over with. Applying for it pains, let's just get 47 00:03:24,221 --> 00:03:24,741 Speaker 2: it over with. 48 00:03:25,941 --> 00:03:29,061 Speaker 1: As a combat medic, Clarence Sassar risked his life to 49 00:03:29,101 --> 00:03:32,101 Speaker 1: try to save others. He healed them the best he 50 00:03:32,181 --> 00:03:36,061 Speaker 1: could in the worst possible circumstances, and what he did 51 00:03:36,141 --> 00:03:41,821 Speaker 1: was incredibly courageous. And then decades later, he looked around him, 52 00:03:42,261 --> 00:03:45,061 Speaker 1: he saw a need, and he forced himself to be 53 00:03:45,141 --> 00:04:00,901 Speaker 1: brave again. On the morning of January tenth, nineteen sixty eight, 54 00:04:01,221 --> 00:04:05,261 Speaker 1: Clarence Sassar was in the Mekong River Delta of South Vietnam. 55 00:04:05,901 --> 00:04:08,461 Speaker 1: He'd been in the country for about four months, and 56 00:04:08,541 --> 00:04:13,021 Speaker 1: he had seen plenty of combat already. Almost every time 57 00:04:13,101 --> 00:04:16,581 Speaker 1: his unit left base camp, there were firefights or ambushes, 58 00:04:17,541 --> 00:04:20,661 Speaker 1: but on that particular day his company was planning to 59 00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:21,901 Speaker 1: just relax. 60 00:04:23,301 --> 00:04:27,941 Speaker 3: We were scheduled as a backup for us, which meant 61 00:04:28,101 --> 00:04:31,141 Speaker 3: we have an easy mission this trip. All you have 62 00:04:31,221 --> 00:04:34,461 Speaker 3: to do is put out your perimeter and your guards 63 00:04:34,661 --> 00:04:38,501 Speaker 3: run a few patrols at night. We were two days 64 00:04:38,541 --> 00:04:41,021 Speaker 3: into that and joining the two men. 65 00:04:43,661 --> 00:04:46,941 Speaker 1: Then they got the news they were going out into 66 00:04:46,981 --> 00:04:47,421 Speaker 1: the field. 67 00:04:48,301 --> 00:04:51,861 Speaker 3: The battalion commander gave orders for us to go to 68 00:04:51,941 --> 00:04:55,901 Speaker 3: this area and check out some movement he had seen 69 00:04:55,981 --> 00:04:59,581 Speaker 3: from his helicopter. So we were loaded up on the 70 00:04:59,661 --> 00:05:04,501 Speaker 3: helicopters and taken to this area. The movement had been 71 00:05:04,541 --> 00:05:07,141 Speaker 3: seen in the tree line surrounding this rice. 72 00:05:07,261 --> 00:05:10,861 Speaker 1: Patty Clarence and the rest of the Ninth Division were 73 00:05:11,021 --> 00:05:14,021 Speaker 1: part of what they called the Riverine Forces. It was 74 00:05:14,061 --> 00:05:17,661 Speaker 1: a combination of army and navy that patrolled that watery 75 00:05:17,741 --> 00:05:21,661 Speaker 1: region of Vietnam. This news report from the Army explains 76 00:05:21,701 --> 00:05:22,141 Speaker 1: their role. 77 00:05:23,221 --> 00:05:27,181 Speaker 4: The Ninth Division's main responsibility, however, was to help secure 78 00:05:27,221 --> 00:05:31,821 Speaker 4: the Mekong Delta. This vast fertile area is virtually one 79 00:05:31,901 --> 00:05:37,181 Speaker 4: gigantic rice paddy, broken up by rivers, canals, and earthen dikes. 80 00:05:37,741 --> 00:05:40,661 Speaker 4: The Republic of Vietnam Armed forces have been fighting a 81 00:05:40,701 --> 00:05:44,141 Speaker 4: long struggle against the Viet Kong in the Delta. Our 82 00:05:44,261 --> 00:05:46,621 Speaker 4: job was to help them. 83 00:05:47,061 --> 00:05:49,941 Speaker 1: So on January tenth, at about ten in the morning, 84 00:05:50,341 --> 00:05:52,621 Speaker 1: Clarence and the rest of his company got ready to 85 00:05:52,661 --> 00:05:55,741 Speaker 1: load into the choppers. They would be dropped in the 86 00:05:55,821 --> 00:06:00,981 Speaker 1: rice paddy where the commander had seen suspicious movement. Clarence 87 00:06:01,021 --> 00:06:04,221 Speaker 1: said something was wrong before they even took off. The 88 00:06:04,261 --> 00:06:07,141 Speaker 1: men were told to eat up, and he knew that 89 00:06:07,381 --> 00:06:11,221 Speaker 1: meant they'd be out for a while. For about twenty minutes, 90 00:06:11,301 --> 00:06:15,501 Speaker 1: the choppers flew over little rivers and marshes, farmland and jungle. 91 00:06:16,261 --> 00:06:18,901 Speaker 1: Then they got to the rice paddy. As soon as 92 00:06:18,941 --> 00:06:22,741 Speaker 1: the first helicopter touched down, wave after wave of shots 93 00:06:22,781 --> 00:06:24,101 Speaker 1: started coming from the enemy. 94 00:06:24,901 --> 00:06:27,820 Speaker 2: I was on probably the third fourth helicopter. 95 00:06:28,981 --> 00:06:33,541 Speaker 3: We go in and the helicopter start taking five rockets. 96 00:06:34,461 --> 00:06:39,061 Speaker 3: A thoroughly bad situation. When the helicopters got hid and 97 00:06:39,181 --> 00:06:40,460 Speaker 3: plumping down in the water. 98 00:06:41,741 --> 00:06:44,621 Speaker 1: The rice paddy was framed on three sides by woods, 99 00:06:44,741 --> 00:06:48,101 Speaker 1: and enemy soldiers were entrenched in those woods with perfect 100 00:06:48,101 --> 00:06:52,901 Speaker 1: sight lines on the paddy. It was mayhem. The noise 101 00:06:52,981 --> 00:06:56,940 Speaker 1: and wind of the helicopter blades, shots coming from the woodline, 102 00:06:57,301 --> 00:07:01,341 Speaker 1: the door gunners shooting back trying to provide cover, and 103 00:07:01,461 --> 00:07:04,501 Speaker 1: GI's jumping from the choppers into the wet muck of 104 00:07:04,541 --> 00:07:05,021 Speaker 1: the patty. 105 00:07:05,741 --> 00:07:10,861 Speaker 3: The water was probably died deep with maybe needy mud. 106 00:07:12,621 --> 00:07:15,741 Speaker 1: Clarence looked out of the chopper and he hoisted his 107 00:07:15,781 --> 00:07:22,821 Speaker 1: medic bag onto his shoulder. Clarence Assar had never planned 108 00:07:22,821 --> 00:07:23,421 Speaker 1: to go to war. 109 00:07:24,301 --> 00:07:27,621 Speaker 3: I was born in a small train stop down in 110 00:07:27,661 --> 00:07:32,581 Speaker 3: southeast Texas, south of Houston. We were a farm family, 111 00:07:33,061 --> 00:07:38,581 Speaker 3: and as consistent with the early fifties, long through there, 112 00:07:39,621 --> 00:07:40,861 Speaker 3: ye know, things were tough. 113 00:07:41,061 --> 00:07:41,781 Speaker 2: Things were hard. 114 00:07:42,941 --> 00:07:45,541 Speaker 1: He lived with his mom and stepdad and siblings and 115 00:07:45,581 --> 00:07:50,021 Speaker 1: a little farmhouse surrounded by marshy prairies. They were pig farmers. 116 00:07:50,301 --> 00:07:53,501 Speaker 1: They were poor, but they were close knit and happy. 117 00:07:54,341 --> 00:07:56,781 Speaker 1: He was close to his father too. His dad had 118 00:07:56,781 --> 00:07:59,581 Speaker 1: fought in World War Two, and little Clarence had seen 119 00:07:59,621 --> 00:08:02,621 Speaker 1: his army uniform hanging in the closet, but his father 120 00:08:02,861 --> 00:08:05,821 Speaker 1: never spoke a word about his time in the war. 121 00:08:06,781 --> 00:08:09,661 Speaker 1: Clarence was a boy scout. He played football and he 122 00:08:09,781 --> 00:08:12,261 Speaker 1: was one of the best live backers in the history 123 00:08:12,301 --> 00:08:15,861 Speaker 1: of his high school. And he was smart. When he 124 00:08:15,941 --> 00:08:19,981 Speaker 1: left high school in nineteen sixty five, he had big plans. 125 00:08:20,301 --> 00:08:24,061 Speaker 3: I graduated high school number four out of sixty eight. 126 00:08:24,341 --> 00:08:26,221 Speaker 2: Which I thought I was a pretty fair student. 127 00:08:27,341 --> 00:08:31,821 Speaker 3: I left high school and moved into the city of 128 00:08:31,861 --> 00:08:37,141 Speaker 3: Houston and started attending the University of Houston. I was 129 00:08:37,221 --> 00:08:42,501 Speaker 3: a chemistry major and did pretty well, but again, no money. 130 00:08:42,581 --> 00:08:44,180 Speaker 2: The money wasn't there. 131 00:08:46,621 --> 00:08:49,061 Speaker 1: This was just around the time when the military started 132 00:08:49,141 --> 00:08:52,340 Speaker 1: drafting young men to go to Vietnam. There were ways 133 00:08:52,341 --> 00:08:56,021 Speaker 1: to avoid being drafted. You could be disqualified for medical reasons, 134 00:08:56,381 --> 00:08:58,461 Speaker 1: or you could be a full time college student, which 135 00:08:58,460 --> 00:09:02,540 Speaker 1: would defer your drafting. But Clarence, he couldn't afford to 136 00:09:02,540 --> 00:09:03,700 Speaker 1: be a college full time. 137 00:09:04,420 --> 00:09:06,060 Speaker 2: Of course, I have a part time job. 138 00:09:06,180 --> 00:09:09,581 Speaker 3: But the mistake I made was in the age of 139 00:09:09,780 --> 00:09:14,621 Speaker 3: student deferment, of dropping to halftime to work a little 140 00:09:14,621 --> 00:09:18,901 Speaker 3: bit more, and from that point I was drafted, drafted 141 00:09:18,940 --> 00:09:20,940 Speaker 3: into the army. 142 00:09:21,021 --> 00:09:25,021 Speaker 1: He wasn't alone. Men from disadvantaged backgrounds were about twice 143 00:09:25,101 --> 00:09:27,901 Speaker 1: as likely to get drafted, to go to Vietnam and 144 00:09:28,101 --> 00:09:32,221 Speaker 1: to see combat. Poor and working classmen made up roughly 145 00:09:32,381 --> 00:09:36,540 Speaker 1: eighty percent of American troops during the war. Most of 146 00:09:36,621 --> 00:09:38,261 Speaker 1: Clarence's friends were sent to. 147 00:09:39,381 --> 00:09:43,221 Speaker 3: Back during this time. They cleaned out the small towns 148 00:09:43,940 --> 00:09:47,580 Speaker 3: for whatever reason, good, bad, and different, but they cleaned 149 00:09:47,621 --> 00:09:47,940 Speaker 3: them out. 150 00:09:48,021 --> 00:09:49,141 Speaker 2: Most of us served. 151 00:09:51,460 --> 00:09:53,940 Speaker 1: When he got to the army in nineteen sixty seven, 152 00:09:54,180 --> 00:09:57,181 Speaker 1: Clarence went through a battery of tests. He was tapped 153 00:09:57,180 --> 00:09:58,341 Speaker 1: to train as a medic. 154 00:09:59,580 --> 00:10:03,820 Speaker 3: It was the fore runner to paramedics type training that 155 00:10:03,901 --> 00:10:07,941 Speaker 3: you see people go through now. We like to call 156 00:10:07,981 --> 00:10:12,901 Speaker 3: ourselves combat medics. Oh, a lot of medics weren't sent 157 00:10:13,021 --> 00:10:18,181 Speaker 3: into combat. I always knew I would. It's one of 158 00:10:18,180 --> 00:10:18,820 Speaker 3: those things. 159 00:10:18,820 --> 00:10:20,621 Speaker 2: She just you just know. 160 00:10:21,981 --> 00:10:24,941 Speaker 1: Clarence was right. He got to Vietnam and he was 161 00:10:24,981 --> 00:10:29,381 Speaker 1: sent straight into combat. He treated gunshot and shopped no wounds, 162 00:10:29,660 --> 00:10:32,141 Speaker 1: and thanks to the hot and damp weather, a lot 163 00:10:32,141 --> 00:10:36,300 Speaker 1: of jungle rot and jackets too. But the work was satisfying. 164 00:10:36,700 --> 00:10:39,660 Speaker 1: He liked the challenge, but more than that, he liked 165 00:10:39,660 --> 00:10:41,020 Speaker 1: the feeling of brotherhood. 166 00:10:41,820 --> 00:10:44,540 Speaker 3: You have to understand the cam rodery that go on 167 00:10:45,141 --> 00:10:50,460 Speaker 3: between troops in Harm's way. The doc is the closest 168 00:10:50,501 --> 00:10:53,580 Speaker 3: thing to him. He's the one that just may save 169 00:10:53,660 --> 00:10:56,420 Speaker 3: your life. 170 00:10:55,300 --> 00:10:58,541 Speaker 1: And they treated you as such. And I loved it. 171 00:10:59,460 --> 00:11:05,180 Speaker 1: I loved it. Man speaking from experience. That's so true. 172 00:11:05,660 --> 00:11:09,060 Speaker 1: Anybody in the medical field. Man, those are our people. 173 00:11:10,940 --> 00:11:13,660 Speaker 1: Clarence learned to keep his head and remember his training. 174 00:11:14,300 --> 00:11:16,820 Speaker 1: He got to know the men so well they spent 175 00:11:16,940 --> 00:11:20,501 Speaker 1: all of their time together. He realized they relied on 176 00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:22,420 Speaker 1: him no matter the situation. 177 00:11:23,420 --> 00:11:27,700 Speaker 3: The thing with the guys was that if they were hurt, 178 00:11:28,861 --> 00:11:32,501 Speaker 3: they wanted treatment as any of us would. 179 00:11:33,540 --> 00:11:36,620 Speaker 2: I mean, don't care how heavy a fire was. 180 00:11:37,420 --> 00:11:41,580 Speaker 3: If he was laying out in the danger and he's hurt, 181 00:11:41,861 --> 00:11:45,060 Speaker 3: he expected the medic to come and see what he 182 00:11:45,060 --> 00:11:47,741 Speaker 3: could do about it. He didn't care about the medic 183 00:11:47,820 --> 00:11:49,221 Speaker 3: maybe getting killed coming. 184 00:11:50,261 --> 00:11:52,701 Speaker 2: He expected you to come. 185 00:11:54,580 --> 00:11:58,461 Speaker 1: Then came January tenth. That day in the Rice patty. 186 00:11:59,221 --> 00:12:02,261 Speaker 1: Clarence knew in his bones what was waiting. He saw 187 00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:04,421 Speaker 1: it as soon as he looked out of the chopper. 188 00:12:05,180 --> 00:12:06,420 Speaker 1: The helicopters down. 189 00:12:07,621 --> 00:12:12,821 Speaker 3: We have probably I don't remember fourteen more coming with 190 00:12:12,940 --> 00:12:16,341 Speaker 3: the rest of the company. It wasn't any choice. We 191 00:12:16,460 --> 00:12:18,980 Speaker 3: had to go in. So we were dumped in the 192 00:12:19,060 --> 00:12:19,660 Speaker 3: Rice patty. 193 00:12:21,901 --> 00:12:24,461 Speaker 1: Shots were coming from three directions, and the patty was 194 00:12:24,460 --> 00:12:29,540 Speaker 1: turning into a killing floor. Men screaming, already hit mortar 195 00:12:29,621 --> 00:12:35,101 Speaker 1: shells exploding. The noise was deafening. As Clarence jumped out 196 00:12:35,141 --> 00:12:38,261 Speaker 1: of the helicopter, he was shot through the leg. It 197 00:12:38,341 --> 00:12:40,981 Speaker 1: was only a superficial wound, but it pitched him into 198 00:12:41,021 --> 00:12:41,381 Speaker 1: the mud. 199 00:12:41,981 --> 00:12:45,740 Speaker 3: There was no going back. Wasn't no such thing as 200 00:12:45,780 --> 00:12:46,540 Speaker 3: too hot out there. 201 00:12:46,540 --> 00:12:49,981 Speaker 2: I'm not going. You made yourself go. 202 00:12:51,261 --> 00:13:12,021 Speaker 1: And so he went. Clarence wasn't a rice patty in 203 00:13:12,060 --> 00:13:16,420 Speaker 1: the Meacong delta, wet and covered in mud, listening as 204 00:13:16,460 --> 00:13:19,340 Speaker 1: the bullets zip by him and his men cried out 205 00:13:19,381 --> 00:13:22,861 Speaker 1: for help. The first thing he figured out was he 206 00:13:22,940 --> 00:13:23,901 Speaker 1: had to stay down. 207 00:13:25,221 --> 00:13:28,941 Speaker 3: I had learned early on that the best way to 208 00:13:29,060 --> 00:13:32,701 Speaker 3: get around that day was just simply grabbing the rice 209 00:13:32,741 --> 00:13:35,780 Speaker 3: sprouts and sliding yourself alone. You could move better like 210 00:13:35,861 --> 00:13:39,221 Speaker 3: that than to try to, of course, stand up. 211 00:13:39,261 --> 00:13:40,780 Speaker 2: If he stood up, you were dead. 212 00:13:43,741 --> 00:13:46,460 Speaker 1: Clarence was overwhelmed by the sight of so much death, 213 00:13:47,221 --> 00:13:52,500 Speaker 1: and he realized that the enemy snipers were specifically targeting medics. 214 00:13:53,141 --> 00:13:56,420 Speaker 2: They would get you, especially they see you bagged. 215 00:13:56,460 --> 00:13:59,461 Speaker 3: They know you're a medic. You know you kill a medic. 216 00:13:59,540 --> 00:14:03,021 Speaker 3: A lot of people probably would die. It was it 217 00:14:03,101 --> 00:14:03,780 Speaker 3: was the rational. 218 00:14:03,820 --> 00:14:07,941 Speaker 1: Now his leg was wounded, but that wasn't his main problem. 219 00:14:08,660 --> 00:14:11,500 Speaker 1: The bigger issue. Clarence was suppose to be one of 220 00:14:11,660 --> 00:14:15,180 Speaker 1: four company medics on the scene. Where were the other three? 221 00:14:15,901 --> 00:14:18,700 Speaker 3: I guess, to make a long story short, I was 222 00:14:18,700 --> 00:14:22,301 Speaker 3: the only medic that lived. The mortals were coming in, 223 00:14:22,501 --> 00:14:27,421 Speaker 3: Snipers were around, guys were yelling dop top. 224 00:14:29,141 --> 00:14:32,541 Speaker 1: The lower half of each man was underwater or mud. 225 00:14:32,661 --> 00:14:36,181 Speaker 1: This left their upper bodies exposed to the snipers. So 226 00:14:36,301 --> 00:14:39,301 Speaker 1: Clarence was tending to chest wounds and had in face 227 00:14:39,341 --> 00:14:44,501 Speaker 1: injuries plus injuries from shrapnel. Those were particularly nasty and 228 00:14:44,701 --> 00:14:48,621 Speaker 1: almost impossible for him to treat, but he kept moving forward, 229 00:14:48,941 --> 00:14:52,381 Speaker 1: pulling himself through the rice patty to each wounded man. 230 00:14:53,141 --> 00:14:54,341 Speaker 2: I'm not going to sit here. 231 00:14:54,221 --> 00:14:58,221 Speaker 3: And say I wasn't afraid. You know, of course you 232 00:14:58,341 --> 00:15:05,381 Speaker 3: were afraid. You were afraid of getting killed. But these 233 00:15:05,421 --> 00:15:08,580 Speaker 3: were my guys. Your job was to look out for 234 00:15:08,621 --> 00:15:12,740 Speaker 3: them when they called, when they hollered, medic or do. 235 00:15:13,460 --> 00:15:18,541 Speaker 3: The job was to go nothing more without fear of 236 00:15:18,580 --> 00:15:20,860 Speaker 3: your life. It was your job. 237 00:15:22,381 --> 00:15:25,181 Speaker 1: At one point, Clarence hurt a soldier from his platoon, 238 00:15:25,261 --> 00:15:30,340 Speaker 1: screaming bloody murder, so he dragged himself towards him. This 239 00:15:30,460 --> 00:15:33,821 Speaker 1: guy was big five eleven two and ten pounds and 240 00:15:34,021 --> 00:15:38,021 Speaker 1: freaking out. But when Clarence got there, he realized that 241 00:15:38,061 --> 00:15:40,701 Speaker 1: a piece of shrapnel had just nicked the skin off 242 00:15:40,741 --> 00:15:43,860 Speaker 1: of this guy's finger. He was paralyzed by the sight 243 00:15:43,941 --> 00:15:46,580 Speaker 1: of blood. Clarence put a band aid on his finger 244 00:15:46,981 --> 00:15:47,581 Speaker 1: and gave him. 245 00:15:47,501 --> 00:15:51,621 Speaker 3: A pep talk after I had finished putting the band intomn, man, 246 00:15:51,741 --> 00:15:54,261 Speaker 3: take your weapon, take your weapon. 247 00:15:54,381 --> 00:15:55,821 Speaker 2: Let's try to get out of here. 248 00:15:57,101 --> 00:16:00,181 Speaker 1: As the day dragged on, the shots kept coming, and 249 00:16:00,221 --> 00:16:03,461 Speaker 1: there was a new problem. Because Clarence was in the 250 00:16:03,541 --> 00:16:07,860 Speaker 1: backup company, they weren't really supposed to be engaged in battle, 251 00:16:08,901 --> 00:16:11,701 Speaker 1: so he just had his basic medic bag, not a 252 00:16:11,741 --> 00:16:16,340 Speaker 1: combat pack with extra supplies. After a few hours, that 253 00:16:16,421 --> 00:16:20,821 Speaker 1: bag was empty, and Clarence, the only surviving medic, could 254 00:16:20,861 --> 00:16:23,981 Speaker 1: give his men almost nothing but emotional support. 255 00:16:25,181 --> 00:16:29,781 Speaker 3: So anyway, here, I'm just pulling myself around and everything. Yeah, 256 00:16:30,101 --> 00:16:36,061 Speaker 3: going to guys and doing the best I could. Anyway, 257 00:16:36,181 --> 00:16:39,021 Speaker 3: doing the best I could. That's how anyone could ask. 258 00:16:42,580 --> 00:16:44,741 Speaker 1: Clarence and the others kept trying to get to the 259 00:16:44,741 --> 00:16:47,580 Speaker 1: tree line, where they would have a little shelter. They 260 00:16:47,621 --> 00:16:50,341 Speaker 1: stopped along the dikes of the Rice patty, since those 261 00:16:50,460 --> 00:16:52,901 Speaker 1: also gave some cover from the mortar shells. 262 00:16:54,061 --> 00:16:56,621 Speaker 3: Man, you could hear them all day bore. They'd come 263 00:16:56,661 --> 00:17:00,301 Speaker 3: in boom, and then you hear it. Well, it's just 264 00:17:00,341 --> 00:17:02,701 Speaker 3: shooting into the water. When it hit the water, you 265 00:17:02,781 --> 00:17:03,860 Speaker 3: hear it just sile. 266 00:17:03,981 --> 00:17:04,181 Speaker 5: Man. 267 00:17:05,941 --> 00:17:09,141 Speaker 1: Then three mortar rounds landed no more than six feet 268 00:17:09,181 --> 00:17:12,661 Speaker 1: eight at the most from Clarence. They sprayed his back 269 00:17:12,661 --> 00:17:14,100 Speaker 1: and left side with shrapnel. 270 00:17:14,901 --> 00:17:19,021 Speaker 3: Shell fragments are something I'll never forget how they feel. 271 00:17:19,981 --> 00:17:23,381 Speaker 2: It's almost no pain. The pain sets in later. 272 00:17:24,461 --> 00:17:29,861 Speaker 3: The initial shock is what you experience, and the searing 273 00:17:29,901 --> 00:17:32,061 Speaker 3: because of course the shell fragments are hot. 274 00:17:33,141 --> 00:17:36,701 Speaker 1: He lay there a while, finally coming back to consciousness, 275 00:17:37,261 --> 00:17:40,901 Speaker 1: feeling the incredible pain and becoming alert again to the 276 00:17:40,941 --> 00:17:45,861 Speaker 1: struggle around him. The day shifted from bright sunlight to 277 00:17:45,941 --> 00:17:49,421 Speaker 1: late afternoon. Clarence was on his side, lying against the 278 00:17:49,501 --> 00:17:53,381 Speaker 1: dike next to a buddy. Suddenly he realized that the 279 00:17:53,421 --> 00:17:57,981 Speaker 1: sound of shooting and mortar shells had gone quiet, so 280 00:17:58,021 --> 00:18:01,141 Speaker 1: he raised up his head to peek out. The moment 281 00:18:01,261 --> 00:18:04,181 Speaker 1: he did, he heard the report of a rifle and 282 00:18:04,261 --> 00:18:06,501 Speaker 1: he felt the impact of a bullet to his skull. 283 00:18:07,501 --> 00:18:11,821 Speaker 1: Clarence grabbed his head and fell to the ground. He 284 00:18:11,901 --> 00:18:14,221 Speaker 1: wasn't wearing his helmet because he had lost it at 285 00:18:14,221 --> 00:18:19,541 Speaker 1: some point during the battle. Unbelievably, the bullet hadn't killed 286 00:18:19,581 --> 00:18:24,261 Speaker 1: him somehow, it had only given him a serious concussion. 287 00:18:26,661 --> 00:18:31,621 Speaker 1: As night fell, American gunships darted overhead, dropping explosives on 288 00:18:31,661 --> 00:18:35,261 Speaker 1: the enemy. They flew so close to the ground that 289 00:18:35,381 --> 00:18:38,061 Speaker 1: Clarence was worried they'd be hit by the explosions from 290 00:18:38,061 --> 00:18:41,981 Speaker 1: their own bombs, but they kept the enemy occupied and 291 00:18:42,021 --> 00:18:46,101 Speaker 1: the men on the ground safe. By then, Clarence and 292 00:18:46,141 --> 00:18:49,541 Speaker 1: the rest of the survivors had managed to reach the woodline. 293 00:18:49,741 --> 00:18:54,821 Speaker 1: Wounded troops were everywhere. For Clarence, the darkness brought the 294 00:18:54,861 --> 00:18:57,541 Speaker 1: worst moments of awe. 295 00:18:57,661 --> 00:19:01,901 Speaker 3: It wasn't so much the enemy activity men. It was 296 00:19:02,061 --> 00:19:05,381 Speaker 3: laying that listening to you. Guys called for their marble. 297 00:19:07,341 --> 00:19:10,661 Speaker 3: You can't do anything. It was tough. 298 00:19:12,581 --> 00:19:13,861 Speaker 2: It wasn't so much. 299 00:19:14,621 --> 00:19:17,981 Speaker 3: Enemy activity or shots or things of that nature. 300 00:19:18,061 --> 00:19:18,421 Speaker 2: It was. 301 00:19:20,021 --> 00:19:23,941 Speaker 3: I was just listening to him big all night, and 302 00:19:23,981 --> 00:19:25,421 Speaker 3: then you wouldn't hear him anymore. 303 00:19:25,541 --> 00:19:26,501 Speaker 1: You know, he died. 304 00:19:31,341 --> 00:19:33,301 Speaker 2: It's tough. It's toughest think. 305 00:19:37,301 --> 00:19:40,381 Speaker 1: The Metavac helicopters began arriving at about four point thirty 306 00:19:40,421 --> 00:19:44,021 Speaker 1: that morning. They got the most seriously injured out first. 307 00:19:45,101 --> 00:19:47,741 Speaker 1: Even with all of his wounds, Clarence was one of 308 00:19:47,741 --> 00:19:48,621 Speaker 1: the last to leave. 309 00:19:49,541 --> 00:19:52,461 Speaker 3: It was a relief, of course, a relief when we 310 00:19:52,461 --> 00:19:55,021 Speaker 3: were out of there and I was still alive. I 311 00:19:55,061 --> 00:19:59,221 Speaker 3: was hurt, but I wasn't I wasn't immortal danger. 312 00:19:59,501 --> 00:20:02,861 Speaker 2: I was hurt. I knew me. I knew I would heal, 313 00:20:02,941 --> 00:20:04,661 Speaker 2: and I would heal fairly quickly. 314 00:20:06,061 --> 00:20:10,941 Speaker 3: I had made it, man, I had made it. 315 00:20:11,541 --> 00:20:14,261 Speaker 1: But what he had seen would haunt him, and he 316 00:20:14,301 --> 00:20:23,261 Speaker 1: would spend decades trying to bury it. After the battle 317 00:20:23,261 --> 00:20:26,101 Speaker 1: in the Rice Patty, Clarence was flown to a hospital 318 00:20:26,141 --> 00:20:29,340 Speaker 1: in Japan. From there he went to a medical holding 319 00:20:29,381 --> 00:20:30,381 Speaker 1: company for rehab. 320 00:20:31,661 --> 00:20:33,821 Speaker 3: So, being a medic, I started hanging out at the 321 00:20:33,901 --> 00:20:39,941 Speaker 3: dispensary during my off time. So and understanding doctor needed 322 00:20:39,981 --> 00:20:44,301 Speaker 3: another medic, and he got me real signed there. So 323 00:20:44,421 --> 00:20:46,661 Speaker 3: I didn't go back, or I would have gone back 324 00:20:46,701 --> 00:20:49,901 Speaker 3: to my unit in Vietnam, which I to this day, 325 00:20:49,941 --> 00:20:50,501 Speaker 3: I thank you. 326 00:20:51,741 --> 00:20:56,061 Speaker 1: Clarence would never go back to Vietnam. Instead, he got 327 00:20:56,101 --> 00:20:57,301 Speaker 1: different news. 328 00:20:57,621 --> 00:21:02,381 Speaker 3: The command in general wants to see me. What what 329 00:21:02,461 --> 00:21:06,701 Speaker 3: did I do. I haven't done any day, Doc. He said, oh, 330 00:21:06,741 --> 00:21:08,861 Speaker 3: you'll like it. It's all right, it's all right. 331 00:21:09,981 --> 00:21:14,861 Speaker 1: All right, And that's an understatement. It was great. He 332 00:21:15,061 --> 00:21:18,501 Speaker 1: was informed that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor. 333 00:21:20,141 --> 00:21:22,741 Speaker 1: That was in the early fall of nineteen sixty eight, 334 00:21:23,061 --> 00:21:25,621 Speaker 1: an election year, so the award would have to wait 335 00:21:25,661 --> 00:21:28,981 Speaker 1: for the new president. After Richard Nixon took office in 336 00:21:29,061 --> 00:21:32,981 Speaker 1: January of nineteen sixty nine, planning for the ceremony began. 337 00:21:33,701 --> 00:21:35,181 Speaker 1: It was set for March seven. 338 00:21:36,061 --> 00:21:40,181 Speaker 3: It was really experience from background, of course, you know, 339 00:21:40,341 --> 00:21:44,501 Speaker 3: poor farm family, and every day my mother and sisters 340 00:21:44,541 --> 00:21:47,741 Speaker 3: were flown up to DC. Of course, this was the best, 341 00:21:48,501 --> 00:21:52,141 Speaker 3: the best thing that ever happened to him. 342 00:21:52,301 --> 00:21:55,181 Speaker 1: Clarence was awarded the medal along with two other army men. 343 00:21:56,061 --> 00:21:57,621 Speaker 1: Nixon gave the speech. 344 00:21:58,341 --> 00:22:04,661 Speaker 5: They are magnificent men, magnificent in their idealism. Idealism is 345 00:22:04,741 --> 00:22:09,581 Speaker 5: often shown by words, but they have demonstrated their idealism 346 00:22:09,581 --> 00:22:13,661 Speaker 5: by their deeds. They have made us proud of being 347 00:22:13,701 --> 00:22:17,340 Speaker 5: Americans and also reminded us that we should be proud 348 00:22:17,341 --> 00:22:20,021 Speaker 5: of our younger generation, the youth of America. 349 00:22:21,101 --> 00:22:24,861 Speaker 1: And Clarence was still so young. He was just twenty one. 350 00:22:24,901 --> 00:22:27,421 Speaker 1: When he came back home to Texas and to a 351 00:22:27,461 --> 00:22:32,301 Speaker 1: grateful community, there was sassurday. Of course, articles were written 352 00:22:32,301 --> 00:22:36,981 Speaker 1: celebrating his bravery, with headlines like steel a valor forged 353 00:22:37,061 --> 00:22:41,101 Speaker 1: and shabby home. He was given a scholarship to continue 354 00:22:41,101 --> 00:22:44,301 Speaker 1: his college studies, this time at Texas A and M. 355 00:22:44,861 --> 00:22:48,421 Speaker 1: But it wasn't that simple. You see this with so 356 00:22:48,541 --> 00:22:54,421 Speaker 1: many events after a traumatic experience, I've lived it, Clarence 357 00:22:54,421 --> 00:22:57,341 Speaker 1: couldn't just return to the future he had planned. He 358 00:22:57,461 --> 00:23:00,661 Speaker 1: thought about death all the time. He dropped out of 359 00:23:00,701 --> 00:23:03,701 Speaker 1: Texas A and M after a year. He just wasn't 360 00:23:03,741 --> 00:23:06,941 Speaker 1: ready for it. He still felt like he was fighting 361 00:23:06,981 --> 00:23:10,021 Speaker 1: for his life. And while he was proud of his medal, 362 00:23:11,141 --> 00:23:13,501 Speaker 1: like the attention, I don't. 363 00:23:13,341 --> 00:23:17,661 Speaker 3: Think what idea was above and beyond. I never have 364 00:23:18,221 --> 00:23:20,381 Speaker 3: and for a long time I had a problem with that. 365 00:23:21,181 --> 00:23:22,501 Speaker 3: I have a problem with why. 366 00:23:22,421 --> 00:23:22,741 Speaker 1: All of this. 367 00:23:22,941 --> 00:23:26,221 Speaker 2: I just did my job. My job was to take 368 00:23:26,261 --> 00:23:27,821 Speaker 2: care of my guys. That's it. 369 00:23:29,741 --> 00:23:32,821 Speaker 1: We've heard that so many times in this series, guys 370 00:23:32,861 --> 00:23:36,781 Speaker 1: who say I was just doing my job. But Clarence 371 00:23:36,901 --> 00:23:39,580 Speaker 1: was honest about a different aspect of the medal of honor, 372 00:23:40,421 --> 00:23:42,861 Speaker 1: one that fewer recipients talk about. 373 00:23:44,581 --> 00:23:48,860 Speaker 3: It's easy to strap it on, but it's a heavy 374 00:23:48,981 --> 00:23:56,901 Speaker 3: something to wear. It requires certain things of you. It 375 00:23:57,341 --> 00:24:01,181 Speaker 3: forces you to go to straight and narrow. I mean, 376 00:24:01,221 --> 00:24:04,381 Speaker 3: you know, I'm gonna be in the newspaper Malevanna recipient 377 00:24:04,501 --> 00:24:09,461 Speaker 3: robs a bank. It sort of makes you live up 378 00:24:09,501 --> 00:24:11,981 Speaker 3: to it. And that's not a bad thing. 379 00:24:13,221 --> 00:24:17,061 Speaker 1: Yeah, not a bad thing. But there was something hard 380 00:24:17,101 --> 00:24:21,141 Speaker 1: about all the attention. It dredges up memories, and these 381 00:24:21,181 --> 00:24:25,461 Speaker 1: are memories that are that you deal with belly if 382 00:24:25,501 --> 00:24:31,141 Speaker 1: they're not on the forefront of the old mind. Clarence 383 00:24:31,181 --> 00:24:33,861 Speaker 1: had always wondered why his father would never talk about 384 00:24:33,901 --> 00:24:50,581 Speaker 1: his war. Now he understood. Two years after he returned 385 00:24:50,621 --> 00:24:55,181 Speaker 1: from Vietnam, Clarence Sasser married Ethel Morrin, a brown eyed 386 00:24:55,221 --> 00:25:00,501 Speaker 1: beauty with an incredible smile. They raised three sons, Ross, Benjamin, 387 00:25:00,741 --> 00:25:04,100 Speaker 1: and Billy. The family lived close to where Clarence had 388 00:25:04,101 --> 00:25:07,821 Speaker 1: grown up. He found work at chemical plants. He was 389 00:25:07,861 --> 00:25:11,261 Speaker 1: patriotic and proud of his service. He kept a flag 390 00:25:11,301 --> 00:25:13,621 Speaker 1: in front of his house that he raised and lowered 391 00:25:13,741 --> 00:25:18,821 Speaker 1: every day, but he avoided actually talking about what had 392 00:25:18,821 --> 00:25:21,901 Speaker 1: happened in Vietnam. Even after he took a job with 393 00:25:21,941 --> 00:25:27,541 Speaker 1: the Veterans Administration, and then in nineteen ninety six, a 394 00:25:27,661 --> 00:25:31,581 Speaker 1: though was killed by a drunk driver. By that point, 395 00:25:31,621 --> 00:25:35,021 Speaker 1: the couple had been married twenty five years. Clarence was 396 00:25:35,141 --> 00:25:40,181 Speaker 1: just forty nine. His world was shattered. In the aftermath, 397 00:25:40,461 --> 00:25:44,261 Speaker 1: something changed. He finally began to really talk about what 398 00:25:44,381 --> 00:25:47,101 Speaker 1: had happened to him in Vietnam. It was a way 399 00:25:47,141 --> 00:25:50,061 Speaker 1: to distract himself from his grief, and he knew it 400 00:25:50,101 --> 00:25:52,941 Speaker 1: was important for another reason. It was a way to 401 00:25:53,061 --> 00:25:58,661 Speaker 1: represent black resilience and bravery. In two thousand and three, 402 00:25:58,781 --> 00:26:01,541 Speaker 1: when he did the interview we've been listening to, there 403 00:26:01,621 --> 00:26:05,541 Speaker 1: was only one other Black Medal of Honor recipient still living. 404 00:26:06,501 --> 00:26:09,541 Speaker 3: Being one of the only two black guys alive now 405 00:26:10,141 --> 00:26:14,661 Speaker 3: is indeed a burden. A lot of places we go, 406 00:26:15,541 --> 00:26:17,741 Speaker 3: you look around the crowd and there are a few 407 00:26:17,781 --> 00:26:20,981 Speaker 3: black people out there and everything, and I know, were 408 00:26:20,981 --> 00:26:23,781 Speaker 3: I'm not there, they would wonder where are the black 409 00:26:23,861 --> 00:26:28,101 Speaker 3: Aren't any black guys in this group? So by virtue 410 00:26:28,141 --> 00:26:31,101 Speaker 3: of that, I feel like I have to go and 411 00:26:31,181 --> 00:26:37,061 Speaker 3: I do, although considerably less than probably what I should. 412 00:26:37,141 --> 00:26:40,141 Speaker 2: But I try to balance it with. 413 00:26:40,261 --> 00:26:43,781 Speaker 3: My knees, specifically not to be reminded of this stuff 414 00:26:44,781 --> 00:26:45,541 Speaker 3: all the time. 415 00:26:48,821 --> 00:26:53,141 Speaker 1: By twenty ten, Clarence would be the only living Black recipient. 416 00:26:53,661 --> 00:26:56,621 Speaker 1: It would stay that way for years. So we went 417 00:26:56,661 --> 00:27:00,340 Speaker 1: to ceremonies and speaking engagements and panels. Even though he 418 00:27:00,381 --> 00:27:03,701 Speaker 1: didn't want to, even if it made him relive that 419 00:27:03,861 --> 00:27:06,781 Speaker 1: terrible day in the Rice Patty, the longest day of 420 00:27:06,821 --> 00:27:09,821 Speaker 1: his life, he did it because he felt it was 421 00:27:09,821 --> 00:27:13,221 Speaker 1: his duty because he had received the Medal of Honor. 422 00:27:14,221 --> 00:27:16,981 Speaker 3: It's a heavy burden to wear it and to wear 423 00:27:17,021 --> 00:27:19,461 Speaker 3: it well, which I like to think I do. 424 00:27:24,381 --> 00:27:26,621 Speaker 1: But the medal wasn't the thing he was proudest of. 425 00:27:27,941 --> 00:27:32,141 Speaker 3: I have sons, man, I have three sons, and I'm 426 00:27:32,181 --> 00:27:36,580 Speaker 3: intensely proud of them to be young black kids. And 427 00:27:36,981 --> 00:27:41,580 Speaker 3: nowadays it's not easy. I tell them every time I 428 00:27:41,581 --> 00:27:46,021 Speaker 3: see him. Now, I'm proud of them. To me, that 429 00:27:46,301 --> 00:27:50,661 Speaker 3: is my crowning achievement. Beyond the metal is to raise 430 00:27:50,781 --> 00:27:53,221 Speaker 3: three young black boys. 431 00:27:54,621 --> 00:27:59,461 Speaker 2: To me, that I feel is my crowning achievement. 432 00:28:02,061 --> 00:28:06,461 Speaker 1: Clarence Sasser died in twenty twenty four. At the time 433 00:28:06,501 --> 00:28:09,421 Speaker 1: of this recording, there are sixty four Medal of Honor 434 00:28:09,461 --> 00:28:14,221 Speaker 1: recipients still alive. Only two of them are black. One 435 00:28:14,301 --> 00:28:17,661 Speaker 1: is eighty four years old, the other is eighty seven. 436 00:28:18,821 --> 00:28:21,941 Speaker 1: It took enormous bravery for Clarence to tell his story. 437 00:28:22,581 --> 00:28:26,581 Speaker 1: It never got easier for him. What you've been listening 438 00:28:26,621 --> 00:28:28,661 Speaker 1: to is one of the very few times he was 439 00:28:28,701 --> 00:28:32,701 Speaker 1: willing to share all of the details, to be that vulnerable, 440 00:28:33,181 --> 00:28:36,541 Speaker 1: to break down in tears remembering those men calling out 441 00:28:36,541 --> 00:28:37,261 Speaker 1: for their mothers. 442 00:28:38,301 --> 00:28:38,701 Speaker 2: Man. 443 00:28:39,181 --> 00:28:44,021 Speaker 1: That's hard, but to me it shows that heroism isn't 444 00:28:44,181 --> 00:28:47,301 Speaker 1: justified by what you face in combat, even for a 445 00:28:47,341 --> 00:28:51,821 Speaker 1: Medal of Honor recipient. True heroism is being willing to 446 00:28:51,941 --> 00:28:57,301 Speaker 1: keep showing up, to keep putting other people first, no 447 00:28:57,341 --> 00:29:27,621 Speaker 1: matter the pain, no matter the cost. Medal of Honor 448 00:29:27,821 --> 00:29:31,421 Speaker 1: Stories of Courage is written by Meredith Rollins and produced 449 00:29:31,421 --> 00:29:35,501 Speaker 1: by Meredith Rollins and Ryan Schweiker. Our editor is Lydia 450 00:29:35,581 --> 00:29:40,261 Speaker 1: Jean Kott. Sound designed by Jake Gorski. Our executive producer 451 00:29:40,301 --> 00:29:45,341 Speaker 1: is Constanze gyardro Fact checking by Arthur Gomperts. Original music 452 00:29:45,341 --> 00:29:49,061 Speaker 1: by Eric Phillips. Special thanks to the Congressional Medal of 453 00:29:49,101 --> 00:29:52,141 Speaker 1: Honor Society. If you want to learn more about this story, 454 00:29:52,181 --> 00:29:54,181 Speaker 1: take a look at our show notes, where we list 455 00:29:54,181 --> 00:29:56,781 Speaker 1: some of the resources we use to put this episode together. 456 00:29:57,621 --> 00:30:00,741 Speaker 1: We also want to hear from you. 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