Tactical Kali

The 110thTexas Police Association Annual Training Conference was held from June 7th-June 9th 2009 in Corpus Christi. Courses offered were: AutoTheft and Burglary Prevention Authority Update, Border Violence from FBI, DrugCartels from the DEA, Immigration and Gangs from ICE, The Influential Leader by Sam Palazzolo, and Homeland Security/Terrorism by Hanan Yadin of ISI Worldwide.The conference was a success. It was attended by State, municipal and county law enforcement officers.

I was later surprised to be nominated on the executive board of the Texas Police Association as Sergeant of Arms. I look forward to helping out with TPA and accept the many challenges my position comes with.

 The highlight of the conference was the speaker for banquet night.  Captain Allen Clark gave a brief biography and focused on his many challenges he encountered and how he overcame them with God's blessing.  He was an Army Captain that was involved in heavy combat in Vietnam when a mortar exploded near him wounding him severely. He faced many challenges in dealing with losing his legs and post traumatic experiences that came with it.

With many law enforcement officers either returning back to their old agencies or hiring on for the first time after servingmultiple tours of duty, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an issue that administrators must address. These are challenges we need to focus on as an agency.

Check out Captain Clark's website at: http://www.woundedsoldierhealingwarrior.com/index.html

Below is an excerpt from Captain Allen Clark's book.

After attendingPhillips Exeter Academy, Allen graduated the United States Military Academy in1963, after which he was commissioned in the Army Corps of Engineers.  Twoyears after graduation from West Point, he volunteered for a tour in Vietnamwhere he served as a Military Intelligence officer assigned to the FifthSpecial Forces Group.  Allen sustained injuries in an early-morning mortarattack at the Dak To Special Forces camp on June 17, 1967, that necessitatedthe amputation of both legs below his knees.  His military service andsacrifice were recognized with receipt of a Silver Star for Gallantry inAction, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. He wasairborne-qualified.

While learning toadjust to his disability and to walk on prosthetic legs, he obtained an MBA infinance and investments from Southern Methodist University in Dallas,Texas.  Allen's first post-graduate position was as an investment manager for Ross Perot.  His other private sector experience has spanned oil and gas exploration, real estate marketing, and mortgage lending.  He has been vice president of a bank, president of three oil service companies, and co-founder of a real estate investment company in Texas.

Allen's impassioned commitment to public service and to helping veterans began with an appointment in 1979 as the Special Assistant for Administration to Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr.  In 1981, Allen was President Ronald Reagan's selection to be Deputy Administrator for the Veterans Administration (now the Departmentof Veterans Affairs).  However, he chose to remain in Texas where in 1982 he received the Texas Republican Party's nomination to run for State Treasurerin a race that was won by former Texas State Governor Ann Richards. 

In 1989, he was nominated by President George H.W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate asAssistant Secretary for Veterans Liaison and Program Coordination at the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs.  In 1991, he received his second VAconfirmation as Director of the National Cemetery System, a position in whichhe served until the end of the Bush Administration. 

Allen's dedicated efforts to support veterans' causes at the national and state levels were recognized with his nomination by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV)organization as the Texas State candidate for the national Outstanding DisabledVeteran of the year 2000.  In 1993 the Military Chaplains Association awarded him their annual National Citizenship Award.

He retired in 2005 as the Public Affairs Officer for the VA North Texas Health Care System in Dallas,Texas.  His current lay ministry is involved in outreach efforts to help veterans recover emotionally and spiritually from adverse war time experiences.  Allen participates in many community and civic activities,including regularly speaking at various group events and churches.  Allenhas addressed many audiences nationwide as a political candidate, publicofficial, and motivational speaker.  Allen's autobiography titled"Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior" will be published in early 2007 byZenith Press.

He is a member of theAmerican Legion, Association of the U.S. Army, Disabled American Veterans,Military Order of the World Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, MilitaryOfficers Association, Sons of the American Revolution, Special ForcesAssociation, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Association of Graduates of the U.S.Military Academy, and Vietnam Veterans of America.

He retired in 2005 asthe Public Affairs Officer for the VA North Texas Health Care System in Dallas,Texas.  His current lay ministry is involved in outreach efforts to helpveterans recover emotionally and spiritually from adverse wartimeexperiences.  Allen participates in many community and civic activities,including regularly speaking at various group events and churches.  Allenhas addressed many audiences nationwide as a political candidate, publicofficial, and motivational speaker.  Allen's autobiography titled"Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior" will be published in early 2007 byZenith Press.

He is a member of theAmerican Legion, Association of the U.S. Army, Disabled American Veterans,Military Order of the World Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, MilitaryOfficers Association, Sons of the American Revolution, Special ForcesAssociation, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Association of Graduates of the U.S.Military Academy, and Vietnam Veterans of America.