My name is Susan Clotfelter Jimison. I am a Gold Star sister.

I am the proud sister of CWO Mark Clotfelter, a Cobra Helicopter pilot with the 361st Aviation Co. (Escort) II Corp who served in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
My father, Millard Clotfelter was a World War II Veteran and a Waist Gunner/Radioman on a B-24. He suffered from “Battle Fatigue” following WWII. He never spoke of his wartime experiences with anyone except his 3 brothers, 2 of which saw combat in the Navy during WWII. He never watched war movies. Their mother had 5 Blue Stars in her California window during that war.

Both my father and brother enlisted. Daddy enlisted following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The rest of his life he could never bring himself to own a Japanese car. There were some things that he just couldn’t get past. Mark, my brother enlisted following junior college and after earning his pilot’s license. Mark wanted to fly and avoided the infantry.

When Daddy died in 1996, I realized that I would never learn what he did during WWII. I found my brother’s unit the year after our father died after posting that I was in search of his helicopter unit. They invited me and sponsored the entire trip to Orlando to attend the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot’s reunion. I let them know up front that I knew how my brother Mark died. The Army had informed us of the details. But I wanted to know how he lived! His comrades were great in telling me where they slept, where they partied and where they flew.

I was only 14 years old when the soldiers and that first telegram arrived. It was on the day of one of my sister’s wedding. Only our father and two of us girls and the visitors knew about the telegram telling us that Mark was missing. The bride and groom did not know. After all, I felt that Mark was just as the telegram stated; missing. I remember thinking he was running in the jungle and hiding from the enemy but would later be found.

The group picture is of my brother, Mark, Paul Renner and Gary Higgins. The other photo shows my mother and father receiving Mark’s awards at the University of Miami. I am seated behind them.

I have since published the book, Dear Mark in memory of my brother. The media portrayed them in a very bad light for so many years. I went all through high school hearing baby killer, and drug addicts. I knew my brother was neither. Dear Mark takes you back to the ‘60s with the music, the war protests and the family that was delivered a telegram no one wants and no help to deal with.

It is a tribute to my brother and all Vietnam Veterans.

~ Susan Clotfelter Jimison, Author of Dear Mark and Through The Eyes of a Tiger, www.susanclotfelterjimison.com/

We are very grateful to Susan for sharing her family service and story with Comes A Soldier’s Whisper, where we are all connected.

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