Reports of sexual abuse and assault on boys and girls by church leaders, family members and trusted adults are every day headlines. These stories only give you facts and concrete information. For the first time, John Mark Clubb tells the rest of the story with unvarnished honesty about the effects of that abuse on all aspects of the victim’s life. This story is a true account of a little boy growing up in Louisville Kentucky who endured years of sexual abuse by his father, a former Baptist minister. His mother, paralyzed by her own anguish and fear could not protect him from his father’s brutality. As a man, John tried to find refuge in the regimentation of a military career, and in multiple marriages. Even though he achieved success in many areas of his life, his efforts to deal with the trauma and shame of his experiences led him to self destructive behaviors and to seek sexual relationships with men and women alike. In acting out his grief and confusion, John left behind a trail of broken people and dreams. His life continued its downward spiral until he reached the ultimate bottom. From this point he finally began the journey towards forgiveness of his abusers but most of all redemption and forgiveness for himself.
This memoir is a groundbreaking account, from a man’s perspective, of the real effects of sexual abuse, both professional and personal. John speaks out about the details of his abuse and the family culture that enabled generations to victimize its children. His searing openness is told with humor, transparency and dignity and throws a spotlight on the darkly kept secrets of childhood sexual abuse. His story will serve as an inspiration to anyone who longs to claim their rightful voice and embrace their own healing journeys.
ohn Mark Clubb is a native of Louisville Kentucky born in September 1960. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps as an enlisted man and served 4 years in the Marine Corps Reserve as a field Military Policeman while attending Eastern Kentucky University earning a management degree in 1983. After graduating from college and obtaining an honorable discharge from the Marines, he attended Aviation Officer Candidate School at Pensacola Florida earning a commission as an officer in the United States Navy in 1983. After commissioning he attended Navy Flight School and the E-2C Hawkeye Replacement Training Squadron at Naval Air Station Miramar earning his Naval Flight Officer wings in May of 1985. Over the next three years he was a Naval Flight Officer part of Airborne Early Warning Squadron 114 (VAW-114) attached to Air Wing 15 and the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). After leaving his squadron he was stationed at the University of Minnesota as an NROTC instructor teaching midshipmen Naval History and Navy Weapons Systems.
He left active duty in 1991 and served the remaining of his navy and military career at various reserves centers and flying assignments throughout the U.S. retiring in 2000 after 22 years of military service. In 1998, he fulfilled a lifetime dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot and has worked for a major airline flying the 737, 757, 767 and Airbus 320 aircraft since. In 2009, he published "boys cry too", a seminal account of his abuse at the hands of his father, a former Southern Baptist Minister and the physical abuse he received at the hands of his mother. In “boys cry too” he chronicles the hidden pain, negative echoes, self defeating behaviors, his multiple negative relationships with both men and women and finally the healing journey which lead him to the place where he was able to say, "I forgive you" to his abusers and in doing so freed him of the chains of his father’s crimes against him. In his off time from flying airplanes, he is an author, business owner, screenwriter, short story teller, playwright, competitive rower and father.
This memoir is a groundbreaking account, from a man’s perspective, of the real effects of sexual abuse, both professional and personal. John speaks out about the details of his abuse and the family culture that enabled generations to victimize its children. His searing openness is told with humor, transparency and dignity and throws a spotlight on the darkly kept secrets of childhood sexual abuse. His story will serve as an inspiration to anyone who longs to claim their rightful voice and embrace their own healing journeys.
ohn Mark Clubb is a native of Louisville Kentucky born in September 1960. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps as an enlisted man and served 4 years in the Marine Corps Reserve as a field Military Policeman while attending Eastern Kentucky University earning a management degree in 1983. After graduating from college and obtaining an honorable discharge from the Marines, he attended Aviation Officer Candidate School at Pensacola Florida earning a commission as an officer in the United States Navy in 1983. After commissioning he attended Navy Flight School and the E-2C Hawkeye Replacement Training Squadron at Naval Air Station Miramar earning his Naval Flight Officer wings in May of 1985. Over the next three years he was a Naval Flight Officer part of Airborne Early Warning Squadron 114 (VAW-114) attached to Air Wing 15 and the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). After leaving his squadron he was stationed at the University of Minnesota as an NROTC instructor teaching midshipmen Naval History and Navy Weapons Systems.
He left active duty in 1991 and served the remaining of his navy and military career at various reserves centers and flying assignments throughout the U.S. retiring in 2000 after 22 years of military service. In 1998, he fulfilled a lifetime dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot and has worked for a major airline flying the 737, 757, 767 and Airbus 320 aircraft since. In 2009, he published "boys cry too", a seminal account of his abuse at the hands of his father, a former Southern Baptist Minister and the physical abuse he received at the hands of his mother. In “boys cry too” he chronicles the hidden pain, negative echoes, self defeating behaviors, his multiple negative relationships with both men and women and finally the healing journey which lead him to the place where he was able to say, "I forgive you" to his abusers and in doing so freed him of the chains of his father’s crimes against him. In his off time from flying airplanes, he is an author, business owner, screenwriter, short story teller, playwright, competitive rower and father.