This book tells the true story of a World War II Veteran and Patriot,
Richard E. Clark. His life journey is told through the tapestry of his vibrant artworks,
his heartfelt speeches, his vivid descriptions, and through the voice of his loving daughter.
While a soldier in World War II, Richard documented his personal journey in the 95th Victory Division with his maps, sketches and watercolors often painted under
nighttime skies, lit by the dim light and din of distant bombings.
After both of my parents had passed away, my sister and I began sorting and clearing our parent's home. We discovered volumes of our father's paintings, posters, insignia designs, and numerous files of his writings and educational materials. I found these to be the goldmines of his life, and the treasures of mine. Among the treasures were my father's paintings from World War II, as well as maps and writings about his experiences during the War. The number of all of these combined literary and painted works of art was overwhelming. The statement that Dad lived his life through his art and his words would be an understatement. These creations tell the history of his life-time in written and bold pictorial form.
After spending countless hours absorbing his scrapbook, lectures, public speeches, and art work, I consulted his collection of The 95th Victory Division World War II, which included history books, newsletters, the videos, my father's speeches and his maps. Then, his story came to life. My dad's creation "The Odyssey of the 95th Victory Division" map was a gift from his heart to the soldiers and families from his Division. It hung in our family room for years. I believed it was finally time for the stories of The Odyssey Map and my father to be shared. This is our history to be cherished and learned from as these veterans and their strength and fortitude will soon be a thing of the past. This book is a gift to the memory of my parents and to my family so that the story can be taken to heart and preserved for generations to come. I hope you will join our journey through his written and spoken words. His timely emotional paintings and the sense of history with the intent of its origin will touch your heart as it has mine.