MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hi -- Overcoming adversity to achieve success was the topic for motivational speaker Patrick Cleburne McClary, III, or "Clebe," a medically retired first lieutenant, during his visit to MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Jan. 16.
This author, husband, father and grandfather did not speak about the history of the Vietnam War, which he fought in, but about his success afterward.
In 1966, he enlisted into the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. During McClary's short time in the Corps, he was a Platoon Leader with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
On the platoon's 19th reconnaissance patrol, they made contact with the enemy. This engagement eventually resulted in hand-to-hand combat. The initial attack took McClary's left arm. By the time a helicopter came to rescue the platoon, he lost an eye, bursted both eardrums, mutilated his right hand and shredded his leg.
After the ordeal, he spent two and a half years in the hospital. The time there was spent grueling through 34 surgeries and hours of physical therapy.
"In the hospital, I was told that I would never walk again," McClary said with a southern drawl, standing and walking in front of the rows of Marines.
Currently, at 60-years-old, McClary has been married to his wife Deanna, for close to 40 years. They have two children, Tara McClary Reeves and Christa McClary McElveen.
He said that his family was with him every step of his recovery.
Since his near death experience, McClary wrote a book about his life called "Living Proof," and had a documentary about his life story made called, "Portrait of an American Hero."
During his talks to Marines, students, military officer selectees and businesses, McClary brings a fist full of acronyms.
His speech is derived around one, PATCH, Positive Attitude That Characterizes Hope.
"Many people say they are happy it's Friday," said McClary, "but I am happy for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and the rest."
His positive attitude could be seen on his face. Every sentence he said to the Marines was followed by a smile.
It could have been real easy for McClary to give up after losing an arm, eye and use of a hand, but he kept moving.
"You have to take each experience, learn from it and drive on," McClary said about life in general. "Everyone has a bad day, but you learn from it and drive on. I see many Veterans complain about the battles they fought, but I say that it's over now, so drive on."
This personal philosophy of McClary's was not said for those who fought in wars, but in every day life. When a husband and wife fight about something, they shouldn't dwell on the mistakes, but learn from and move on with their lives.
Traveling all 50 states and nearly 30 foreign countries, McClary has talked about many problems that are faced.
At schools he talks about drugs and peer pressure. At large corporations he talks about success. Even at Armed Forces schools, he talks about leadership. All these topics he relates to at some point in his life.
His main focus at any seminar is to teach people not to give up, to keep trying and learning from mistakes so they can succeed.He told the Marines to keep succeeding not just in their job and promotions, but in education, marriage and in life.
"Suicide is the number one killer in youths today and one of the top killers in the military," McClary said. "An old worker at my family's plantation told me that when a guy jumps off a bridge, on the way down he is probably thinking 'I shouldn't have jumped" and when a man shoots himself, just as the trigger is pulled, he thinks 'I wish I hadn't done that'."
No matter how bad any of the Marines in that theater thought their lives were, the sight of McClary and his story might change their minds on their life.
A man, a retired Marine, who could have lost everything, who lost an arm, eye and use of a hand, who could have given up on life decided to get beyond what he lost and concentrate on what he can gain.
After his retirement, he received three Purple Hearts, a Silver and Bronze Star, along with numerous other awards as a motivational speaker. With the medals on his chest and plaques on his wall, McClary said that his success came from his attitude and the help from his wife and family.
Don't dwell on past failures, was the meaning of his speech. Learn from them and with a positive attitude, move on to the next phase in life.