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Her father saved lives in Korea, and now his name is on a U.S. Navy ship

Interlochen Public Radio | By Ed Ronco
Published May 16, 2024 at 6:00 AM EDT
Traverse City resident Sam Clark smashes a bottle of champagne against the USS Robert E. Simanek, to christen the vessel in San Diego on May 4. The vessel is named for her late father, a private first class in the U.S. Marines and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. (Photos courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
1 of 3  — 2024-05-04 Simanek 3.jpg
Traverse City resident Sam Clark smashes a bottle of champagne against the USS Robert E. Simanek, to christen the vessel in San Diego on May 4. The vessel is named for her late father, a private first class in the U.S. Marines and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. (Photos courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
Traverse City resident Sam Clark smashes a bottle of champagne against the USS Robert E. Simanek, to christen the vessel in San Diego on May 4. The vessel is named for her late father, a private first class in the U.S. Marines and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. (Photos courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
2 of 3  — 2024-05-04 Simanek 2.jpg
Traverse City resident Sam Clark smashes a bottle of champagne against the USS Robert E. Simanek, to christen the vessel in San Diego on May 4. The vessel is named for her late father, a private first class in the U.S. Marines and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. (Photos courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
Traverse City resident Sam Clark smashes a bottle of champagne against the USS Robert E. Simanek, to christen the vessel in San Diego on May 4. The vessel is named for her late father, a private first class in the U.S. Marines and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. (Photos courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
3 of 3  — 2024-05-04 Simanek 1.jpg
Traverse City resident Sam Clark smashes a bottle of champagne against the USS Robert E. Simanek, to christen the vessel in San Diego on May 4. The vessel is named for her late father, a private first class in the U.S. Marines and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. (Photos courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Traverse City resident Sam Clark went to San Diego to christen the USS Robert E. Simanek, a 785-foot expeditionary sea base for the U.S. Navy.

"He finally realized he was, indeed, talking to the commandant of the Marine Corps and he actually stood up in honor and respect for the commandant. And the commandant said, 'No, no. I should be standing up.'"
Sam Clark,
on her father learning he'd have a Navy ship named for him

On August 17th, 1952, Robert E. Simanek was a private first class in the Marine Corps, fighting in Korea, when his unit was ambushed.

He threw himself on a grenade, absorbing the explosion with his body and saving the lives of those around him.

Simanek also survived and received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953.

His daughter, Sam Clark, lives in Traverse City. In late April, she traveled to California to dedicate a new U.S. Navy ship bearing her late father’s name.

Listen to her describe the experience, through the audio player above.

The USS Robert E. Simanek, in San Diego for its christening as an expeditionary sea base for the U.S. Navy. The ship's namesake is the father of Traverse City resident Sam Clark, who smashed a bottle of champagne on the vessel. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
The USS Robert E. Simanek is seen on the left, in San Diego for its christening as an expeditionary sea base for the U.S. Navy. The ship's namesake is the father of Traverse City resident Sam Clark, who smashed a bottle of champagne on the vessel. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
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Ed Ronco
Ed Ronco is IPR's news director.
See stories by Ed Ronco