Clay Spenser

**Clay Spenser**, was a Navy SEAL and Special Warfare Operator First Class of Bravo Team, and was referred to as B6, or Bravo 6. He is a second-generation Tier-One Operator, and his father, Ash Spenser is a former member of SEAL Team 3. He is temporarily promoted to B2 following Ray Perry's removal from active duty.  After suffered traumatic damage to the femoral nerve in both legs, Clay was unable to operate for 8 months.

## Personality

Clay Spenser is an extremely intelligent and motivated member of Bravo Team and often comes across as cocky and arrogant. This perhaps stems from his chaotic childhood as his father, Ash Spenser left him and his mother, when Clay was five years old. Clay is seen to be fearless, often going through the door first or jumping off a 70ft oil rig, in Fracture. Clay often argues with the members of Bravo Team over mission details or tactical decisions, thinking he has a better answer.

Before joining Bravo Team, Clay and Jason Hayes have a heated argument, when Clay shoots a man wearing a detonation vest despite the order to bring him in alive.  Despite constantly seeming confrontational or argumentative, Clay is extremely close with the members of Bravo Team as they often blame his cockiness on his youth, finding him extremely dependable in the field, in the operation room and, as a friend.

## Early Life

Clay Spenser grew up raised by his grandparents, who were missionaries, in Liberia, where he learned a lot of different local dialects. His mother gave him over because she was not able to take care of him alone, after his father left them.

Clay was part of SEAL Team 3 as *Chalk 2, Alpha Platoon* before graduating Green Team and making it to Bravo Team.

## Season 1

In Tip of the Spear Clay is trained by Big Chief and gets mouthy to his educator who then prompts to repeat the challenge. He's later teamed up with Jason Hayes' team of SEALs where he proceeds to clash with Hayes after Shooting Abu Samir Al Masri at gunpoint.

In Other Lives he trains along with Brian Armstrong at Adam's course, while Brian helps someone else Clay uses the chance to get an advantage on his competitor. Afterwards Adam announces the release of a bottom-five list that will end up sending one hopeful home. Clay is sure that he won't be on the list and acts cocky about it to Adam who snaps back. Later him and Brian are at a bar where he meets and flirts with Stella Baxter, they begin dating shortly after. The next day it's revealed that Clay is on the bottom-five list.

## Season 3

*During the events of Season 3 - particularly after meeting Ambassador Nicole Marsden - Clay begins to wonder how he can "point the spear, not just be the tip" (i.e. have some say in what missions the SEALs, especially Bravo, are deployed). In "Rules of Engagement", CAPT Lindell volunteers to nominate Clay for* STA-21*, one of the Navy's officer-commissioning programs; after spending a few weeks thinking about it (and although the nomination doesn't go over well with Jason or especially Sonny), Clay decides to explore the option of possibly becoming an Admiral.*

Bravo Team is in Serbia and what is supposed to be a simple stakeout turns into a dramatic car chase with three dead in connection to *Vadim Tarasov* but are able to bring in *Viktor* alive. Back at HQ everyone lightheartedly makes fun of Lisa Davis and her new position before debriefing and heading to bed. Days later they are all called far away, and after multiple car rides and a boat ride, find themselves at a shipping dock. Everyone watches Trent's back as he places the tracker on the truck. Clay shoots a beer can in distraction to help Trent make his escape. Much later, Jason makes the call to infiltrate the building in order to find *Bojinka* . However, after cornering him, he blows himself up.  Everyone returns to HQ safe, except for a few scratches on clay and Jason from the bomb. After their de-briefing, Sonny goes on about how he is excited to watch a UT football game. When he leaves the room Brock informs everyone the game has already taken place, and the gang decides to mess with him. Later Mandy Ellis sends them out to capture *Peter Malkin*. once he's interrogated, they head home. Sonny's bet with everyone turns into a drinking game. And it isn't until the next night does he find out he has been duped. Bringing this up on their walk over to *Vadim Tarasov*. Once inside the Team goes room to room, only to find *Vadim Tarasov* in a final secret room. He reaches for the gun and Jason shoots him

Jason is in a mood and running drills over and over again during their training session. Afterwards, they are introduced to their new commanding officer Captain Greyson Lindell. The next day they are called in for quick mission in Azerbaijan. There are to help maintain the peace only to find out the power station has been taken over by Armenian terrorists. They retake control and head home.

Bravo team is looking over new candidates to add an additional member to their team. Days later after being tasked with taking over a ship holding hostages, Jason finally agrees to go with Ray's plan, leading to a successful outcome. Later, Jason introduces Vic Lopez to the team, much to Clay's annoyance over his friend losing out on the position.

Bravo is gearing up for a three-week protection mission in Yemen. Ray is lead and picks him to come down two days early. While there he meets Ambassador Nicole Marsden, and is very impressed with her dedication to her job, preventing civil war between two warring tribes. Soon the embassy is under fire.  Bravo makes it inside, and while coordinating their escape are almost taken out by a missile. During a shoot out in the street, Clay takes the enemy's machine gun and uses it against them. They eventually escape on a bus but the Ambassador refuses to leave, wanting to get a phone call out, believing it will bring peace between the two tribes she had already been working with. Clay goes with her and is impressed with her tactic, successfully bringing them to negotiating terms. Unfortunately the building is attacked and she dies in his arms. Clay returns to the states genuinely sad for her passing.

After meeting Rebecca Bowen at the funeral for Ambassador Nicole Marsden, he later returns home from Paris, France to find a pair of shoes delivered to him from her. He calls her up and they arrange a date.  Clay briefly mentions Rebecca to Sonny while working out. After returning from Iran, he goes on a date with her for the first time. Though he originally starts out rather solemn, she is able to turn his mood around.

Clay wakes up to another morning with Rebecca. She invites him to an elite political event which he declines, not wanting to get into politics. However after a mission that sends him to Africa in order to protect a doctor from Ebola, he begins questioning why their safety is put in such danger over what was continuously described as an easy fixed situation. Halfway through, they find out an incredibly dangerous pure form of the disease has been taken, and could possibly be used as a weapon. Every time he asked questions he is told to mind his own business. He is becoming increasingly aware this high-profile mission was used with them as pawns, and they were purposely left in the dark.

Clay was hesitant to introduce Rebecca to his friends. Things and over well but it soon became clear to him that Sonny was distancing himself as Clay was no longer a lone wolf like him. After interrupting a moment between Sonny and Lisa Clay realized that they had been dating, and that's who Sonny's secret girlfriend had been. He confronted Sonny, believing that Sonny blew him off. They later all arrived to testify on Lisa's behalf for her hearing. Afterwards Clay drove down to DC to meet with Rebecca, taking her up on her offer to introduce him to some political government agents.

Rebecca and Clay are at a bar, and both annoyed to see Ambassador Nicole Marsden name being dragged through the mud for political gain. He is interrupted when he notices Sonny and a couple other Bravo members at the same bar, hours out of their way. Sonny has an attitude, and Full Metal and Trent came to keep him in check. He picks a fight with a patron pretending to be a Navy SEAL, angry that he didn't do it first. All three escort him out. The next day Clay is able to impress *The Brass*, suggesting he be the hostage during their next exercise, even offering a photo without their faces. This impressed Captain Lindell, and when he returns from Africa, he is offered entrance into the *Seaman To Admiral-21 (STA-21) Program*, one of the Navy's officer-commissioning programs.  He mulls option over with Rebecca, as this would be his last opportunity as there is an age limit, but not sure if he wants to give up being a door kicker. At the barbecue sendoff, Sonny accuses him of ratting him out to Lindell for punching that guy, and it gets out, he is considering leaving the team to become an Admiral. Multiple fights break out. Finally the morning before leaving, he confirms to Rebecca he has decided to join state 21. But is hesitant to tell his team members.

Bravo returns to The Middle East to Afghanistan for the start of their three-month mission. Michael Chen, a former Bravo member, is brought in from Charlie to replace Sonny while he's in Texas. The first three weeks are silent, much to everyone's annoyance. While in the rec room, Mike stirs up trouble, revealing Clay has accepted STA-21, causing a fight between Clay and Jason. Jason removes the younger member from the team in anger and sending him away to COP Redding.

Clay spends the next couple of weeks with soldiers from the 101st airborne division in the korengal valley as punishment. After a while he notices a particular pattern the enemy is conducting in order to keep an eye on their base. After killing three insurgents with mortars, they come under attack by insurgents with a technical, requiring immediate air support, which will take an hour. Clay takes two spotters with him and eliminates insurgents on the technical with a single shot each. Everyone is impressed, including the young man he feels guilty about that got shot. He leaves him his SEAL patch before being flown back to Bravo. Clay and Jason make up, and he admits being a leader comes with a lot more responsibility than he realized.  Bravo is sent in to break up a group of gathering extremists. The CIA interrogated all of some, however none have any useful information so are that go. Only for it to be discovered after the fact, one of them was the head of the new gathering group of fascists.  Bravo tracks down a gun for hire that has been jailed. Aware the officers are wasting their time and something is about to happen, they are only partially caught off guard when a suicide bomber blows up the police building. The enemy destroys their communication signal, Clay is pinned down under heavy gunfire, while the rest of Bravo searches for a solution. Ray is able to locate and take out the two snipers, and reinforcements arrive for the rest of them.

Over video chat, his girlfriend shares that *Ambassador Nicole Marsden* has been cleared of all wrongdoing.

## Season 4

Clay, the rest of Bravo, Echo and Romeo go on an operation to hunt down Azfaar Al-Hazred the leader of the Tahara Network. He is the son of Asim Al-Hazred (a terrorist Jason killed over a decade before). Bravo locates the camp and after they chase Azfaar into a tunnel he is cornered and Clay shoots him dead, as he goes to reach for a trip wire attached to a pressure plate.

When he returns from Afghanistan, he and Rebecca get into an argument, when he tells her he lost his opportunity to got to STA-21, because he took the fall for writing the letter exonerating Ambassador Marsden. He is frustrated that she cannot see the importance of his job and informs her he made some wrong turns, including accepting Lindell's STA-21 nomination. They break up when he hesitates after she asks him if she was a wrong turn, indicating that she was.

After Captain Lindell immediately revokes Clay's STA-21 nomination, he is assigned a desk job in the Logistics Division. He is told in The New Normal that he will be able to operate again in the future, but it will not be with Bravo Team. Clay's suspension from Bravo was temporarily rescinded after Jason demands that himself and Clay join Bravo's rescue efforts to save Ray from enemy captivity. Shortly after the rescue mission, Clay's suspension from Bravo was removed on a permanent basis, after Jason goes to talk to Lindell.

He and Stella meet again when she shows up for Naima, when Ray is captured. They meet for coffee where Clay informs Stella that he and Rebecca broke up, but she tells him she is seeing someone. Stella asks if they are still friends, though visibly disappointed, Clay agrees they are. After returning from a mission, he goes to her apartment and tells her he was trying to move on, but realized he was running away from the fact that he still loves her. They reconcile and begin dating again.

In the Season 4 final One Life to Live, after returning from deployment, Clay, still grappling with the loss of Full Metal, expresses to Jason that he doesn't think it's fair to bring Stella into this life. It seems as though he is going to end things with her, to protect her from the pain his job can inflict on loved ones, but he comes to the conclusion that choosing life without her would be the wrong decision. He proposes to her and they get married.

## Notes

* He was killed, after a Security guard at an Air-Force office shot and killed him, mistaking him for someone trying to break in.
* Special Warfare Operator First Class Clay Spenser, promoted from SO2 during the gap between season 2 and season 3.
* *SO1 Clay Spenser* is a recipient of the Silver Star, four Bronze Stars with a Combat "V", and a Purple Heart.  He has been nominated by Senior Chief Perry for a new Bronze Star with a Valor for his actions in Yemen during combat.
* Has 4 tattoos. A Special Warfare skull on his right tricep, a faded angel on his left bicep, the Bible verse “Genesis 27:3” on his right side, and a small star on his upper back
* In reality there is in fact a small town in Liberia called Clay-Ashland. Knowing that Clay grew up in Liberia it might be possible that he and his father were named after this town if this is where his grandparents lived. Although this is only an assumption and has yet to be confirmed or denied by official sources.

* Speaks; Hausa, Yoruba, Mende, Arabic, Pashto, Urdu, Marathi, French, Spanish and Mandarin.   Stella told her parents, that Clay speaks six languages, but during the show he has either spoken or been said to speak all of the above, so it's possible that Clay is fluent in six of those and speaks the rest only on some level.
* Was Brian Armstrong's authorized representative to notify next of kin if he dies on his CACO form.
* Endured and passed his SERE training.
* Becomes an official member of Bravo Team.
* Clay has four deployments in Afghanistan. Two of those with SEAL Team 3 and two with Bravo Team.

* Promoted temporarily to B2 or *Bravo Two*
* Met his girlfriend Stella Baxter's parents, *Brett* and *Holly Baxter* .
* In Season 2 Episode 4 "All that matters" Sonny says: "I'm fine as Senses wine." to Clay and Ray. Max Thierot, who plays Clay, is actually the Co-Founder of Senses Wine along with a childhood friend. The smile from Clay, which doesn't fully fit the situation and previous conversation, indicates this line was improvised, which although is not confirmed.
* Shot in the vest while of duty in Mumbai by Pakistani radicals.
* Stella Baxter broke up with him before his deployment to Mexico.
* He went back to B6, after Ray Perry's return.
* Jason stated that Clay has been on Bravo Team for 1 year, and has been a full Navy SEAL for 8 years.
* Was in critical condition, with traumatic injury to both legs, and severe blood loss. His condition was too complex to treat in The Philippines, and was airlifted back to the States.
* Suffered traumatic damage to the femoral nerve in both legs. The surgical grafts and reconstruction surgery were successful, but neural pathways may never heal completely. The ongoing risk of sensation loss could compromise safety and mobility in the field. Clay started a program of physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain strength in his legs, but was warned he still might never be able to operate again.

* After approximately 8 months off, Clay finally re-joined Bravo Team.
* Saves Jason Hayes life from being killed by a suicide bomber.
* Told once again to drop his crusade for Brett Swann, and in-return better mental health care will be provided for all SEALs.
* Master Chief Hayes and *Senior Chief Perry* speculate that in 10 years, Clay will be leading Bravo Team.
* Ray Perry and Clay are confirmed to go back and forth as lead snipers. However, Clay is often picked over Ray as he has better aim, while Ray has more experience.
* Prefers a *Heckler & Koch HK416 Long Barrel.* Sometimes, he will have a *Heckler & Koch HK416 CQB Barrel* But will often stick to his choice, even when everyone else has something smaller.
* Was offered and accepted *STA-21* to become an officer. Though this is presumably blown in God of War/Forever War, after covering for Ray.

## Appearances

* Tip of the Spear
* Other Lives
* Boarding Party
* Ghosts of Christmas Future
* Collapse
* The Spinning Wheel
* Borderlines
* The Exchange
* Rolling Dark
* Pattern of Life
* Containment
* The Upside Down
* Getaway Day
* Call Out
* No Man's Land
* Never Get Out of the Boat
* In Name Only
* Credible Threat
* Takedown
* Enemy of My Enemy
* The Graveyard of Empires
* The Cost of Doing Business
* Fracture
* Never Say Die
* The Worst of Conditions
* All That Matters
* Say Again Your Last
* Hold What You Got
* Outside the Wire
* Parallax
* Santa Muerte
* Prisoner's Dilemma
* Backwards in High Heels
* Things Not Seen
* Time to Shine
* What Appears to Be
* You Only Die Once
* Dirt, Dirt, Gucci
* Paradise Lost
* Payback
* Medicate and Isolate
* Rock Bottom
* My Life for Yours
* Never Out of the Fight
* Welcome to the Refuge
* Ignore and Override
* Adapt and Overcome
* The Strength of the Wolf
* All Along the Watchtower Pt 1
* All Along the Watchtower Pt 2
* The Ones You Can't See
* Danger Crossing
* Kill or Cure
* Unbecoming an Officer
* Siege Protocol Pt 1
* Siege Protocol Pt 2
* Fog of War
* Objects in Mirror
* Rules of Engagement
* Last Known Location
* Drawdown
* Edge of Nowhere
* In the Blind
* No Choice in Duty

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fracture
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Paradise Lost
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Welcome to the Refuge (Part 1)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tip of the Spear
5. ↑ As mentioned in "Tip of the Spear"
6. ↑ Welcome to the Refuge
7. ↑ Ignore and Override
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Adapt and Overcome
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Strength of the Wolf
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 All Along the Watchtower (Part 1)
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 All Along the Watchtower (Part 2)
12. ↑ The Ones You Can't See
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Danger Crossing
14. ↑ Kill or Cure
15. ↑ Unbecoming an Officer
16. ↑ Siege Protocol (Part 1)
17. ↑ Siege Protocol (Part 2)
18. ↑ Fog of War
19. ↑ Objects in Mirror
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Rules of Engagement Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "S3Ep15" defined multiple times with different content
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Last Known Location
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Drawdown
23. ↑ Edge of Nowhere
24. ↑ In the Blind
25. ↑ No Choice in Duty
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Never Out of the Fight
27. ↑ Pattern of Life
28. ↑ The Spinning Wheel
29. ↑ Borderlines
30. ↑ The Exchange
31. ↑ Never Say Die
32. ↑ All That Matters
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Hold What You Got
34. ↑ Payback
35. ↑ Medicate and Isolate
36. ↑ Rock Bottom
37. ↑ My Life for Yours