I have been a professional writer and editor for 25 years, having worked for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register and Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.) I have published hundreds of stories in the Princeton Alumni Weekly, the Santa Fe New Mexican, the Denver Post, Marathon & Beyond, the Coloradan, and many other publications.
I am the only living grandson of US Marine 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, Jr., who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after he was killed in action on the tiny central Pacific atoll of Tarawa on November 22, 1943. Learn more
In May 2015 I was part of an archaeological team from History Flight, Inc., that located and recovered my grandfather’s remains, along with those of more than forty other Marines killed on Tarawa. He was buried in Knoxville, Tennessee with full military honors on September 27, 2015.
Bones of My Grandfather, my book about my grandfather’s life, legacy, my recent travels to Tarawa, History Flight’s efforts, and more, will be published by Skyhorse Publishing in July 2018.
I worked as a cowboy from 1981-1987 and wrote a book, I See By Your Outfit, about those experiences. I published a children’s book, The Winter Witch, in 2005. In August 2015 I published Behind the Green Vest, the story of iconic McGuckin Hardware in Boulder, Colorado.
Some things I like: writing; reading — especially 20th-century American literature, science fiction from the 1940s onward, the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and non-fiction books about history, politics, skepticism, and religion; running; mountain climbing, especially Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks; long-distance hiking; cycling; scuba diving; sampling craft beer (never more than one at a time, though); dogs and pretty much all animals; surfing (but I suffer from living as a landlubber who can rarely go); summer; and lots of other things.
In July 2015 I solo hiked the 486-mile Colorado Trail, walking 21 and a half days and taking three “zeroes,” one each in Breckenridge, Princeton Hot Springs, and Lake City. From March to September 2016, I hiked the Appalachian Trail, which runs for more than 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine. You can read about that trip by searching for The Trail Is the Teacher on this site.
In October 2015 I moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with my wife, three dogs and a fine old cat named Frodo. This is the first time I’ve lived anywhere besides the Rocky Mountains or California since college.
Wonderful News!! I’m nephew of Pvt. William (Bunk) Cowart KIA, Tarawa. Mark Noah’s working hard to do the same for our family. Warm thoughts from the Cowart family (Alabama) to yours; very happy that an American Hero, and your relative, will receive the burial, with honor, as he deserved.
Hello Clay
we have just interviewed Mark Noah for our nationwide news here in NZ. And in following up on that, I came across your amazing story. We’d v much like to call you and get your story for RNZ – pls come back to me so we can arrange a time. Tomorrow would be best, to follow up quickly on today’s Mark Noah iv. +64 4 4741982 or email me above. THANKS
Hello, sir. I am on 500-mile “tramping” (as you say) tour. However, I am in town through tonight if you would still like to talk.
Please email me again at claybonnyman (at) gmail and I hope we can work something out.
I love New Zealand!
Hello Clay, I heard about you finding your grandfather’s remains on the news, I am so pround of you. I haven’t known how to reach you for some time now but think of you so often. The family drifted after your dad’s and grandmommie’s deaths. Would love to hear from you. We would very much like to be in Santa Fe when your grandfather is laid to rest, please let us know when you are going to be there. Love you, Aunt Teri and Uncle Vidal
Oh my gosh, Teri, I’m so glad to hear from you. Please email me at claybonnyman(at)gmail — I would like to be in touch and we can exchange phone numbers.
However, I’m hiking the Colorado Trail this month, so only available every 5-7 days … including tonight.
And I am very sorry that I have not kept in touch. That’s my fault and I would like to rectify the situation. I hope you, Vidal, the girls, your grandchildren and Uncle Mike are all well.
Hello Clay,
I’m a reporter with KPIX 5 in the Bay Area. I came across an article in the San Jose Mercury about your story and the recent discovery of your grandfather’s remains in Tarawa. I wanted to find out if you’d be up for a Skype interview possibly today. We’d love to run a story about your journey to find out more about your grandfather. Feel free to email me or call/text at (415) 505-9801.
Thank you,
Christian Hartnett
Reporter
KPIX 5
Hey, Christian. guessing your story was tagged to Independence Day. I am on a 500-mile trail hike, only hitting town every 5-7 days. If you are still interested, I can be reached until about 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7.
If not, no worries. I was a journalist for 25 years, still freelance, so I understand.
If you like, you can email me (easier than this forum) claybonnyman(at)gmail.
Thanks.
Hello,
I am a producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation here in Toronto, Canada. Our national evening current affairs program – As It Happens – would like to speak to you about your incredible discovery and the emotional end to your quest to find your heroic grandfather. Are you available for a brief (5 minute) pre-recorded phone interview later today?
Please let me know if this can be arranged.
Many thanks,
John
—
John McGill
Associate Producer, As it Happens
CBC Radio One
+1.416.205.7013
john.mcgill@cbc.ca
http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/
Mr. Evans. My father served with your grandfather. His name is Allen E. Heminger and he is 93 years old. 2nd Marine Div. 18th combat engineers. He was at Guadalcanel, Tawara, Siapan and Tinian. Looking foward to your book. Michael Heminger.
I would love the opportunity to speak to your father for my book. I’m headed out for a 500-mile backpacking trip on Wednesday, July 1. Any chance I might catch up with him tomorrow, or if not, in August?
Thank you so much for the kind words.
Hello, Mr. Huber.
Thank you for the kind words about Sandy Bonnyman. As you might imagine, I’ve looked up to him my whole life.
In answer to your question regarding his remains:
I stay in close touch with Mark Noah of History Flight, Inc., the civilian nonprofit that has had great success in locating and exhuming the remains of the “lost Marines” on Betio. Of some 500 such cases, Mark and his teams—working with the Defense Department’s Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, though in truth, that agency has really piggybacked on Mark’s work—have to date recovered more than 13,000 bones and 100 “intact” sets of remains. It’s a remarkable story.
As it turns out, Sandy’s remains almost certainly are buried in “Cemetery 27” on the north side of Betio near the bunker where he fell, with 39 other Marines who were killed on the bunker or nearby.
Cemetery 27, alas, is perhaps the single most complicated area to excavate on all of Betio. The island is tiny, poor, polluted and mostly covered with shanties. However, this area is “developed” (by Betio standards) and possible burial sites are covered with paved roads, concrete pads, hard-packed coral gravel (almost as hard as concrete), buildings, fences, cisterns and the like.
Mark and his team continue to hope that they can get the permissions they need to fully explore this area, which will require substantial work with a backhoe. He has even proposed tearing down certain buildings to excavate with promises to rebuild.
So while we are still hopeful, ironically, the only Medal of Honor recipient whose remains have not been recovered may be among the most difficult to find on Tarawa.
I am, at long last, approaching a finished draft of the book, on which I’ve been working for years. It’s been an illuminating and gratifying process and I hope to have the manuscript in the hands of some trusted editors/readers by as early as next week.
Thanks so much for writing.
Clay Bonnyman Evans
Have your grandfathers remains yet been found and returned home?
Mr. Evans, My wife and I visited your great grand aunt Martha’s estate Oak Hill yesterday and were greatly moved by the the incredibly handsome portrait of your MOH earning grandfather Sandy’s portrait in the upstairs hallway. I being interested in WWII history researched the circumstances surrounding the Battle of Tarawa in which he gave his life and was posthumously awarded the MOH. My eyes teared at his selfless bravery. Our family had 5 WWII vets including my dad on Okinawa, uncle on Guam, dad in law also a Combat Engineer Omaha Beach to VE Day, a Merrills Marauder, and Iwo Jima 5th Marine Amphibious assault. Proud of all. Look forward to your book on your brave grandfather. Sincerely, Randall Huber, Powder Springs, GA