Major Thomas E. Clark

I am a little late sharing this wonderful tribute. 

Thank you June Caldwell for giving me permission to share this story.

Fifty Years ago on Feb. 8, 1969, my uncle, Major Thomas E. Clark was shot down in his F-100D Super Sabre over Laos. Below is his story.

Thomas Edward Clark was born on April 15, 1939 in Emporium, Pennsylvania as the third son of the late Otto and Josephine Schager Clark. An avid hunter and fisherman, Tom enjoyed the outdoors. He was a star fullback at Cameron County High School, graduating with honors in 1957. After attending Penn State University for two years, Clark received an appointment to the Air Force Academy from which he graduated in 1963. The graduation ceremony included the first commencement address to the Academy from a sitting president, President John F. Kennedy. That same year Tom married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Mottern of Emporium. The 1963 Air Force Academy Yearbook states that Tom's goals were to be a pilot and a politician.

On February 8, 1969 Captain Clark was flying an F-100D Super Sabre, of 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 37th Tactical Fight Wing, in a flight of four mission over Laos. The flight controlled by an F-4 Forward Air Controller, engaged a 23mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery battery. Captain Clark's aircraft was hit by rounds from the artillery battery, burst into flames, and crashed. No parachute was observed. Aircraft in the area conducted visual and electronic searches, with negative results. Subsequent to the incident, the U.S. Air Force determined Captain Clark to be Killed in Action (KIA), Body not Recovered (BNR). The Air Force posthumously promoted Tom to the rank of Major.

On February 12, 1991, a joint U.S./Lao People's Democratic Republic team investigated the crash of Thomas E. Clark's F-100. In late 1991, a Thai citizen turned over to U.S. Officials in Thailand human remains as well as military identification tag and a partial military identification tag bearing Major Clark's name. The remains were identified as other than Captain Clark's. In February of 1992 a team worked to excavate the suspected crash site of Thomas E. Clark in the Savannakhet Province with no apparent results. In October of 2005 a joint team re-investigated the crash site excavated in 1992. Another bone fragment was found but later identified as not part of a human. In October of 2009 another joint team re-excavated portions of the crash site and recovered human remains. After extensive examination, including isotope testing, the human remains were identified as the remains of Thomas E. Clark.

The Clark family was notified in June 2011 that the remains of Thomas E. Clark would be returned to the family.

The Emporium Community welcomed Major Clark home on Oct. 20th, 2011. A Pennsylvania State Police escort was provided from the Pittsburgh airport. On Interstate 80 at several exits, various Honor Guards stood along the roadside to pay respects as the caravan passed by. Once the caravan arrived in St. Marys, they received additional escorts by the Patriot Riders to Emporium. When the caravan arrived in Emporium, the streets were lined with community members to welcome their local hero home. The football team stood together as one element of the community with their game jerseys on for the game that evening. Additional tributes were provided such as an order by Governor Corbett to have flags at the state capital and Emporium to be flown at half-staff.

In order to properly remember Major Thomas E. Clark’s sacrifice to his country and to thank the community, the Clark family established a scholarship for a Cameron County High School senior. Funds for the scholarship have come from Seneca Resources, selling Christmas Trees from the Clark Family Christmas Tree farm, private and family donations.

Words cannot express the feeling of personal thanks for the US government and their tireless efforts to work so hard to bring Uncle Tom home to his family, the escort that was provided by the Pennsylvania State Police and Patriot Riders, and the Emporium Community for their warm reception of their fallen hero returning home.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the scholarship please send it to:

Major Thomas E. Clark Memorial Fund

 c/o Northwest Savings Bank 

2 East Fourth Street 

Emporium, PA 15834