Students at Hellstern Middle School in Springdale, Arkansas, are seated on the floor of a large gymnasium-auditorium during the time Major Clarence G. Oliver, Jr., as Major Clarence G. Oliver, Jr., is being introduced. Oliver is seated at the right just before moving to the stage for his talk to students.

Veterans Day Speaker at Hellstern Middle School

Springdale, Arkansas – Veterans Day, 2016

Major Clarence G. Oliver, Jr., a retired U.S. Army Infantry Officer and a combat veteran of the Korean War, is frequently invited to speak at various school assembly programs, civic clubs, church, and community events in Oklahoma communities, as well as in neighboring states. On Veterans Day in 2016, Oliver was the keynote speaker at Hellstern Middle School, Springdale, Arkansas.  More than 1,000 sixth and seventh grade students listened intently as he shared about the 3,000-year-history of Korea, his experiences during the Korean War, and spoke of his book, Tony Dufflebag . . . and Other Remembrances of the War in Korea. 

Oliver served as an Infantry master sergeant in a front-line Infantry unit during the Korean War.  He received a direct appointment as a second lieutenant, Infantry, in 1952, served in command and staff assignments in the 45th Infantry Division for almost two decades and another 10-years in U.S. Army Reserve assignments.  His last military assignment was at the John F. Kennedy Center for Special Military Assistance, where he served as a Psychological Operations Officer with the 1st Psychological Operations Battalion, a Special Forces unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 
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He is a retired U. S. Army Infantry Major.

Following a Veterans Day talk to students, faculty, and guests, a reception, question-answer time, students continued to ask questions, following Major Clarence G. Oliver, Jr. in the hallway as he was leaving the building. Major Oliver is pictured talking with the students as they continued to ask questions.