Ronald Blair Clark

Ronald Blair Clark was raised in Runnells and graduated from Southeast Polk High School in the class of 1966. Before he was drafted by the Army, Clark helped his father on the family farm. Upon entering the service in early 1968 he trained as an infantryman. PFC Clark was sent to South Vietnam in July 1968 and was killed less than one month into his deployment. The young Iowan died of gunshot wounds inflicted during a firefight with the enemy in the Binh Duong Province. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. Clark was 20 years old and married at the time of his death. His body was returned to Iowa and buried at the Dunreath Cemetery in Otley, just east of Runnells.