Clark takes it one day at a time

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, May 12, 2008

In March 2007, one day after his 23rd birthday, Fergus Falls native and National Guard Specialist Kristopher Clark received the Purple Heart. Clark received the medal after being wounded in Iraq Sept. 2, 2006.

His left foot was severely injured by shrapnel after an improvised explosive device detonated under his HMMWV (Highly Mobile Multi-Wheeled Vehicle) while he was on patrol in the Anbar region of Iraq.

It was a day of honor when Clark received the Purple Heart before family and friends, parents and relatives of others soldiers, military dignitaries, civic leaders and Minnesota U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman at the National Guard Armory in Moorhead.

That being said, Clark still lives with pain.

After sustaining his wounds, Clark had surgery in Iraq before two more surgeries were performed at a U.S. military hospital in Germany. The arch of his left foot was severely injured, requiring further major surgery in April 2007. Then came several months of rehab-ilitation.

Just recently Clark had surgery to remove the screws from his foot.

The doctor wanted an MRI performed to see what's going on with the tendon. He’s seeing a VA doctor now. A new scan will be performed after Clark’s foot heals from this latest procedure.

“It’s really sore because the bone had already grown around the screws and had to be removed,” Clark said. “The doctor was able to get a look at the tendon during the surgery. He’s concerned that there’s damage that may require more surgery.”

The medical crew gave Clark the screws that will be part of a display with all of his medals, combat badges, etc.

He's still on active duty and working at the Moorhead Armory. Over the past several months Clark has been happy to continue being a member of the Fergus Falls National Guard. He previously assisted Staff Sgt. Mark Sjostrom at the National Guard Armory in Fergus Falls.

“I’ve enjoyed working with the military personnel at the armories in both Fergus Falls and Moorhead,” he said. “We’ve gotten along very well.”

Clark joined the Fergus Falls National Guard Nov. 15, 2001. His service in Iraq was his second tour of duty overseas. He formerly served in Bosnia with fellow members of the Fergus Falls National Guard, including Sjostrom.

We as a society owe it to Clark and other wounded U.S. soldiers to carefully examine the various levels of care that we, as a nation, provide to those who have so gallantly served their country. We need to ask one important question.

Do we have the necessary support structures that serve the needs of the wounded, both at home and overseas?

Most often, the answer is yes. Unfortunately, at times, the answer to that question is no. That’s why we need to be forever vigilant regarding this question.

Most Americans are willing to foot the bill to give military veterans the medical treatment they deserve. Private organizations such as Wounded Soldier Outreach also do much to support military personnel and family members. Most members of Congress also want to do as much as they can for wounded veterans.

We owe it to Clark and others who have given so much for their country.

Tom Hintgen’s column appears Mondays.