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After the bloody onslaught of pearl harbor, Clark, only 18 at the time, is adamant in joining the marines to get revenge against the Japanese. In boot camp, he forms a new identity as a marine and a hardened killer. As Erikson stated many teens Clark's age struggle with their role in this world, however Clark is set on his identity as a warrior.
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Before Clark left for war, he fell in love with a young girl named Mary. He promised he'd come back to her but as the war dragged on he began to worry he would never see her again. While Clark cared little about his life after the marines before he left, he now desperately wanted to return to Mary. As Clark sat in his muddy blown-out shelter, he began to crave intimacy and loathe being so isolated from the ones he loved much like Erikson's sixth stage.
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Clarks spends his final days reminiscing on his time in this world. His loving wife, Mary, never left his side until the day he died at the age of 68 and Clark never regretted a single day in his life. His final moments were of knowing that he truly made a difference in this world and got to marry the love of his life. Erikson states that many people struggle with regret and despair this late in their life but Clark never did. He was content and proud of what he had done.
