George W. Clarke Jr. was a RF-4C navigator assigned to the 12th Tac Recon Squadron (Blackbirds) at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam. He was assigned to the unit after being trained and serving as a bomber navigator. He began his tour of duty in September 1967 and was shot down over Laos on October 16, 1967. During this relatively short time, he was awarded the Silver Star and the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was well respected by his fellow pilots and navigators as well as the enlisted men of the 12th.

On October 16, 1967, Capt. Clarke was flying a night recon mission with Capt. Richard Appelhans near the infamous Mu Gia Pass in Laos. The Pass was a part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and was heavily fortified with 37 MM and 57 MM anti-aircraft guns. Capt. Appelhans was listed as Missing in Action and finally declared Killed in Action Capt. Clarke was initially listed as MIA and eventually listed as "captured," however he was not repatriated at the end of the war and no information on his fate was made available by returning POWs. He was finally declared KIA November 8, 1973.

Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Suffolk County ,New York, Plot: 2P, 4557.

Clarke, George William, Jr., Maj