ST. LOUIS — 92-year-old Frank Clark was part of one of World War two's deadliest battles, but that hasn't stopped him from living a full and upbeat life.
It looks ordinary from the outside, but inside the Missouri Veterans Home, you'll find some incredibly unique stories.
"They took me in on December 23, 1943, and I was a little 17-year-old punk," explained Clark.
That 17-year-old punk is now 92.
"They were just slaughtering them when they were getting off their boats there," added Clark.
The Marine is talking about the historic battle at Iwo Jima, something he witnessed firsthand.
"It was a horrific battle and we lost an awful lot," said Clark.
But the war took a lot from Clark too, two of his brothers serving in the army air corps were killed in combat.
"My mother at home put through paperwork and within 6 months I was brought back to the states but I was still in the Marines," added Clark.
That's when Clark met his wife Nadine.
"I married a minister's daughter and she was an angel too," added Clark.
The two were married for 73 years until Nadine passed away two years ago, but that doesn't stop Clark from doing one of their favorite things.
"I love to exercise these 92-year-old muscles by dancing with any lovely lady that walks by. In fact, I think I see a lovely lady over there," said Clark.
You can probably guess where Clark's love for dancing comes from.
"My wife says if this is going to work out I'm going to teach you how to dance so she started teaching me when I was 21 years old," added Clark.
Something he calls the best dance lesson of his life.
You can find a painting of Frank and his two brothers at the Soldier's Memorial Military Museum in downtown St. Louis.
His brother in law painted the picture.
