Kelly Clark, Sr; no, not that Bronze Star

| April 2, 2018

Someone sent us their work on this Kelly Clark fellow. The leadership of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association tried to get him to remove the Bronze Star Medal patch on his vest (in the picture above), but he refused claiming that he had been awarded the Bronze Star Medal. The Association stuck by their guns and Clark quit.

Looking at his DD214, Clark served aboard USS Mispillion (AO-105), an Ashtabula-class oiler, probably while it was stationed off the coast of Vietnam for seven months in 1967 servicing the ships involved in Yankee Station.

Clark left the Navy in 1970 as an E-3 Gunner’s Mate. His discharge says that he was awarded a Vietnam Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star, meaning that he was stationed off the coast of Vietnam during a particular campaign. A Bronze Service Star is very different from a Bronze Star Medal and Mr Clark should know that without being told.

He has a reenlistment code of RE-4 which means that he wasn’t eligible for reenlistment for some reason or another.

Category: Navy

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jedipsycho (Certified Space Shuttle Door Gunner)

Maybe Kelly Clark, Sr. thought that if he only told “a little lie” that he wouldn’t get caught. Douche canoe.

Combat Historian

Probably a purposeful and deliberate mis-identification and obfuscation on Clark’s part. I’m pretty sure he knows the difference between a BSM and a bronze service star; he just didn’t want to admit he was caught posering and embellishing. He’ll take his phony BSM to the grave…

AnotherPat

“He’ll take his phony BSM to the grave…”

Just as Forging Frank..😉

Peter the Bubblehead

By Kelly’s standards, I have FIVE bronze stars! (One on my NUC, one on my MUC, one on my NDSM, and TWO on my Good Conduct medal!) I need to update my vest!

Jay

Peter:

I’ll one up you, i’ve got a SILVER Star. Too bad its on my good conduct….

Ret_25X

I see your silver star and raise you the famous silver oak leaf! LOL

I’ll hold the very high level “silver knots” in reserve!

LOL

Former EM1/SS

I’ve got one on my patrol pin.

I’ve got to get one of those vests……

HMC

EM1: Truly cool vest. Some nice facial hair, probably sitting on a chopper and possibly has a mutt in the vicinity. Don’t see a ponytail, though. Marginal at best. And, oh, BTW, NO WAY he doesn’t know the difference between the two. Shame on him for his antics

Graybeard

I see your Silver Star and raise you one Silver Beaver.

Oh, wait – wrong uniformed group.

Ret_25X

well you know, Wynona has a big brown beaver…at least according to Primus….LOL

Jay

Does it still eat Taco Bell?

Just An Old Dog

It smells like Seven Layers….

Mayhem

Kinda like havin” a GOMAR w/2 oakleaf clusters…..

NHSparky

Six bronze stars here: one on my MUC, one on my GCM, four on my SSDR.

AND a gold star, which outranks a Silver Star, doesn’t it?

Peter the Bubblehead

Damn!
I forgot about the two on my SSDR! That brings me to SEVEN Bronze Stars!

Top THAT Kelly Clark!

ENCM(SW) Ret.

Wow… I must be a friggin Super Sailor, I got more Bronze and Silver Stars than I can count in my head… After all these years…
Who knew ? Man I gotta get some new patches.

CplMajor Mike

The stupid fuck!

Josey Wales

Kelly Clark – *PTUI*

JimV

What, no pony tail?

Travis “LJB” Drake

Thanks for the info in the article. Just an update for you we are not an MC nor do we clame to be a MC we are a Veterans Association. Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association is an Association of Veterans from all branches of the US Armed Forces who ride motorcycles as a hobby.

Graybeard

Question, sir. Are you merely a “Veterans’ Association” or are you a “Combat Veterans’ Association”?

From your explanation, it appears that using the term “Combat” in your name is inaccurate.

RonO

a Combat Veterans Association. Though there are 3 types of members.
1-Full members with verified combat service.
2- Support members, other veterans that have not served in a combat
3- Auxiliary members (generally spouses)

You must submit a dd-214 or if active duty an ERB to be verified.
If you are a Support member, you must be sponsored by an existing Full Member and Support membership cannot surpass 10% of the membership.

Hope that helps

Graybeard

Thank you, RonO.

Cris

I notice the members here in Tucson like to wear the CAR patch with the branch they served in underneath. I understand Navy and Marine vets, But I don’t recall SO many Army and Air Force types attached to Marine/Navy units so as to be wearing the patch with Army or Air Force underneath. IMHO, if you did not earn it, do not wear it. The CAR is not a “catch-all” ribbon for anyone, regardless of branch, to denote being in combat.

Thunderstixx

Does the Chena Bar in Fairbanks on a Saturday night count as combat ???

Sapper3307

Point of order.
The CVMA is in association not an MC/club/SOA.
And this member needs a talking to by his Local BOD.
p.s riding season is upon us!

Sapper3307

And my bike just started on the first crank, and a brisk ride to start the season. Crystal lake is still iced in from end to end.

John Seabee

RE-4 equals a ‘bottom blow.’

Martinjmpr

Funny that this should come up now, because I’m curious about the criteria for being a member of the “Combat Veterans Motorcycle Club.”

Reason I ask is this: My wife’s nephew joined the Army in 2009. (We were all on Facebook by this time and his wife was an avid Facebooker, so all this got posted.)

He did a 3 year tour in Germany, never deployed, and while he was there he injured his ankle during PT.

Then he PCS’d to CONUS, still nursing his injured ankle. The ankle got worse and he ultimately ended up getting either a medical discharge or a medical retirement.

Never deployed anywhere, which seemed odd to me because despite having what I would assume is a critical MOS (mechanic) and despite serving during not one but TWO wars, this guy never deployed anywhere sandy or mountainous.

He was an E-4 when he got out so I don’t think he pulled any “strings” to get out of deploying, he just never deployed.

There were NG and Reserve guys doing multiple deployments but this guy never went anywhere and he was on AD.

Then after leaving the Army he went to a trade school and started riding a motorcycle, and he posted pictures of himself being “inducted” into the CVMA. And I thought “What the hell? He’s never been anywhere NEAR combat?”

So I don’t know what they classify as a “combat vet” but they must be pretty loose in their interpretations.

At least Clark qualified for a campaign ribbon.

Skyjumper

Martinjmpr,

Maybe your wife’s nephew qualified to be a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Club as a “Supporter Member”.

Seems, according to their webpage, if you don’t have verified combat service, than you can join as a Supporter Member.

“Our membership is comprised of Full Members ( those with verified combat service ) and Supporter Members ( those who have non-combat military service, and have a sincere dedication to helping veterans ). We have members from all 50 states and living abroad. Many members continue to serve in our Armed Forces, with several serving in combat areas now.”

https://www.combatvet.us/

Martinjmpr

Ah, got it. A distinct possibility. Thanks for the info.

AnotherPat

Claw:

Guess who else came from the same hometown as this dude (hint, 1st SEAC):

http://www.scnow.com/messenger/article_5df8f9c0-ed56-11e5-b895-37bd4e3f0ba3.htm

Must be something in the drinking water in that part of SC that Bronze Stars are being embellished…🤔

At least this guy did rightfully receive a NDSM for Vietnam. 😉

Claw

Hmmm, more evidence of scumfuckery from the 1st SEAC.

Reading through the article, I was struck with this quote from the 1st SEAC:

“I remember the day I got hit”

Sure would like to hear the backstory on just how a III Corps CSM got “hit.”/smile

AnotherPat

You nailed it, Claw.👍👍👌👌🙄…

Claw

There is also more to the story behind the 1st SEAC being “challenged” by the recruiting officer to finish high school, but it’s better left alone until the 1st SEAC gets his own exclusive Phony Embellisher’s post./smile

Ex-PH2

He got hit because he refused to pay the hooker.

AnotherPat

Ex-PH2: 😅😆🤣😂😆!!!!

Thank you for that GREAT laugh!👏👏

Ex-PH2

My pleasure, Another Pat.

Atkron

Hell, I don’t think he even fired his M14 for shot line purposes; since it is the receiving ship that shoots those during UNREP.

Sad, sad little man with an RE4.

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

We had a staff Admiral onboard one time that tried teeing off with the golf ball attached to the shot line during an unrep. I don’t remember if it worked since it was many years ago.

Fjardeson

Atkron, was reading about the RE-4 reenlistment code… just a question: how could one get an honorable discharge AND an RE-4? Just curious…

AW1Ed

Can’t speak for Mr. Clark here, but I had the misfortune to crew up with an In-Flight Technician (IFT) who thought he was God’s Gift to Naval Aviation as a salty first tour AT2. Granted he was a good IFT, but he was certain he was sooo much smarter and better than anyone. He constantly pushed the limit on insubordination, wasn’t an asset when it came to training new ATs, and was a general PITA to fly with. We had “words” several times about his attitude. He got an Honorable Discharge and RE-4 code, too. Bu-bye.

MK75Gunner

RE-4 for Navy/MC just means the individual was not recommended for reenlistment. I saw a couple of guys over the years that were denied re-enlistment. Not bad guys just not great Sailors. A lot of it was performance/evals based.

SaraSnipe

I knew a few 6YO Boiler Technicians that got RE-4 because they did not re-enlist (according to them). Some were actually good sailors too, as far as Snipes go.

Graybeard

I’m wondering if Kelly Clark, Sr. – who does not have a Bronze Star – has some memory loss/confusion due to recreational drug use?

Not a good thing for a motorcycle rider, for sure.

rgr1480

Point of order.
The CVMA is in association not an MC/club/SOA.

So …. what is the difference between:

1. Motorcycle Club
2. Motorcycle Association

Is there some sort of innuendo or nuance?

You can probably tell that I do not ride murdercycles.

Sapper3307

The big difference imo is that most MC’s have territory’s have territory’s that are defined and sometimes defended. The CVMA is not territorial and gets along with everyone that wants to be gotten along with.

Andy11M

I often see Bronze Star plates and the first thing that goes through my mind is if someone at the DMV was duped.

Yef

The DMV only asks for the certificate, which can be easily falsified. They do keep a copy of it, so if someone challenges the evidence is there.

Bobo

Virginia requires a DD-214.

Yef

That picture doesn’t look like Kelly Clarkson. Something wrong here.

Atkron

Ok, that was funny.

Dapandico

Never hear about a douche nozzle wearing an oak leaf cluster.

OldManchu

I think he confused it with his Bronze Bunghole.

RCAF-CHAIRBORNE

W/ Fleshy Clusters device

26Limabeans

“A Bronze Service Star is very different from a Bronze Star Medal”

I have three and I make damn sure everyone knows they are not the BSM in any way shape or form. Easy lie to rock though given the public’s lack of knowledge on anything military.
They have nothing to do with what one did while there.

RM3(SS)

Huh. Bronze Star. In 3rd grade, teacher gave me not one but two(2) Gold Stars!
I need to put that on my vest, and hey, where’s my service dog?

FatCircles0311

Oh, he fucking knows the difference. Everyone that’s worn the uniform knows the difference.

Old 1SG, US Army (retired)

I got three gold stars on my recruiters badge back in the day… that must account for something!

2/17 Air Cav

Booze Star.

Green Thumb

Yeah.

JMac

Another douchebag.

Garold

Who doesn’t have a Bronze Service Star? I must have over a dozen of them.

What an idiot!

jonp

I’ll go out on a limb and say that maybe he is genuinely confused as to the difference and is so hard headed he won’t listen to anyone that he is wrong.
“I’ve got a Bronze Star and that’s it”