Photo by Joselyn King Chuck Clark, a member of American Legion Post 1 in Wheeling, looks back with pride on his 20-year career in the U.S. Navy.

WHEELING — Nearly 40 years ago, Chuck Clark was a “shy, insecure” youth attending Bellaire High School when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

Clark, 55, of Shadyside, said he matured and learned much during a military career that lasted from 1989 to 2009. During that time, he served as an aviation electrician working on helicopters.

After his service came college and a master’s degree, and today he is a mental health professional who works with prison inmates.

During his time in the Navy, Clark spent nine years stationed in San Diego; three years as a recruiter in the Chicago suburbs; two years in Jacksonville, Fla.; and three years in Patuxent River, Md. He later was stationed in Norfolk, Va., where he boarded the USS George Washington for a deployment to Japan. He retired while stationed in Japan.

Clark said he knew early in life that he wanted to join the military.

His grandfathers and father served, and he saw jobs in the local coal mines and steel mills dwindling.

“It just seemed the logical route to get out of the Ohio Valley,” he said. “It was scary. I was a very shy and insecure kid and I had to figure it out. And I did.”

Clark said it took him a long time to overcome his insecurity. He learned to become more comfortable while working as a recruiter in Chicago and “selling the lifestyle.”

“I hated it, but I was good at it,” Clark said. “When you have to sell a lifestyle to young men and women, it’s a very difficult thing to do.

“But it was the beginning of me breaking out of that insecurity and shyness and becoming more open.”

Clark never saw combat during his Navy career, but he was deployed to the Persian Gulf on two occasions. The ship’s role was to police the Gulf.

“I would say I had a boring career, but then I look back at maturing and things like that,” he said.

The most difficult experience he faced was a massive fire aboard the USS George Washington in 2008.

“You can’t run away from a fire on a ship,” he said.

The ship went into “general quarters,” an emergency lockdown in which crew members responded in firefighting mode. The order lasted about 12 hours as personnel worked to bring the fire under control.

“It was pretty intense,” Clark said. “Thirty-seven people were injured. Luckily nobody lost their life, though there were four young men we thought were going to [die], but they didn’t.”

While in the Navy, Clark began taking classes offered through the military. One course on “chemical dependency in the military” inspired him to pursue a career in mental health.

He earned an online bachelor’s degree in 2010 from the University of Phoenix at age 40 and a master’s degree from West Virginia University at 45.

Today, Clark works as a licensed therapist at Belmont Correctional Institution.

He is also active with American Legion Post 1 in Wheeling and rides motorcycles with the American Legion Riders.

What Clark remembers most about the military is “becoming a man and maturing.”

“I left right after my senior year in high school. I grew up in the military,” Clark said. “I had high anxiety and insecurity…. I enjoyed myself thoroughly. I learned a lot.

“Those who serve have a different mentality. We look at things differently. We all sign on the dotted line to give our life if necessary for our country. At any time, it can happen. A very small percentage of the population can say that. I can proudly say that I served my country, and I think I can say I did a good job at it.”