Nicholas (Freeland) Clark had a challenging childhood.  His parents divorced when Nick was only a toddler.  His mom was the sole provider as Nick's dad ended up in jail with drug charges.

When Nick's dad completed his sentence, he begged his mom to live with his dad.  Nick's mom reluctantly agreed.

Little did Nick's mom realize, his dad had fallen back into his old ways, even cooking drugs under the family's trailer.

Nick's dad disappeared for weeks at a time.  Nick was left to fend for himself.  He dropped out of school to work at Domino's Pizza, loving the feeling of providing for himself.

With Nick's cousin's persistence, he moved to Alaska to work in a fish plant.  He loved the arduous work and long hours.  It was an escape from the confusion Nick left behind.

Nick was working when he heard about September 11, 2001.  He felt a calling to return home.  It wasn't a direct path, but eventually Nick enlisted into the U.S.  army.

This is only 1/2 of Nick's story.  It is so jam packed, I had to create two episodes.

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