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Bruce C. Clarke | |
|---|---|
 General Clarke in 1961 | |
| Born | (1901-04-29)29 April 1901 Adams, New York, U.S. |
| Died | 17 March 1988(1988-03-17) (aged 86) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1917–1919 (enlisted) 1925–1962 (officer) |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United States Continental Army Command United States Army Europe Seventh United States Army United States Army, Pacific I Corps X Corps 1st Armored Division Combat Command B,7th Armored Division Combat Command A,4th Armored Division |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (3) Air Medal Army Commendation Medal |
Bruce Cooper Clarke (29 April 1901 – 17 March 1988) was aUnited States Armygeneral. He was a career officer who served inWorld War I,World War II, and theKorean War. He was the commander ofUnited States Army, Pacific from December 1954 to April 1956,Continental Army Command from 1958 to 1960, and commandedUnited States Army, Europe from 1960 to 1962.
Clarke was born on a farm inAdams, New York, on 29 April 1901. He dropped out of high school to enlist in theUnited States Army in 1917, served in theCoast Artillery Corps duringWorld War I, and gained appointment to theUnited States Military Academy through the New York National Guard. He graduated in 1925 with a commission in theCorps of Engineers. In addition to his degree from West Point, he earned a civil engineering degree fromCornell University and anLL.B. fromLa Salle Extension University.[1] He also was an equivalent graduate of theNational War College and is credited with starting the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy system.
In the Second World War, as acolonel and then abrigadier general, he commanded Combat Command A (CCA) of the4th Armored Division in GeneralGeorge S. Patton'sThird Army, leading it to victory over a superior German armored force at theBattle of Arracourt in September 1944. In December Clarke ledthe relief ofSt. Vith during theBattle of the Bulge, which slowed the German attack. Writing afterward, General Eisenhower credited Clarke's actions as the "turning point" in that battle.
During theKorean War, Clarke commanded the1st Armored Division,Fort Hood, Texas, from 1951 to 1953. He then transferred to Korea, where he commandedI Corps in 1953 andX Corps from 1953 to 1954. He also trained the FirstRepublic of Korea Army.
Clarke was then assigned as Commanding General,United States Army Pacific in Hawaii from 1954 to 1956. After his tour in Hawaii, he commanded theSeventh United States Army in Germany from 1956 to 1958. He received a promotion to the rank offour-star general in August 1958. From 1958 to 1960 he commanded theContinental Army Command, heading the entire Army school system which, at the time, had over 250,000 participants. From 1960 to 1962 he served as Commander in Chief ofUnited States Army Europe, before retiring on April 30, 1962.
On 18 October 1971, theSupreme Council of the Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States conferred upon Clarke, a 33rd DegreeFreemason, the Grand Cross of the Court of Honor. This is the highest Masonic award, with only 11 holders out of 600,000 Freemasons in the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite.
Clarke's military decorations include theDistinguished Service Cross, threeArmy Distinguished Service Medals, threeSilver Stars, theLegion of Merit, and threeBronze Star Medals. He also received decorations from foreign countries including France, Germany, Great Britain, Korea, and the Philippines.
General Clarke's issued Distinguished Service Cross originally belonged toGeneral George S. Patton. During Col Clarke's medal presentation, General Patton was unable to find the medal and instead awarded him his own. It and the rest of General Clarke's Medals and Awards are currently preserved in Clarke Middle School, Adams, New York.[2]
Distinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal with twooak leaf clusters
Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters and"V" Device
Army Commendation Medal
Air Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
World War I Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with fourcampaign stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal with two campaign stars
Honorary CompanionOrder of the Bath (CB)
United Nations Korea Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
Philippine Independence Medal
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Conspicuous Service Medal
Conspicuous Service CrossClarke died after a stroke on 17 March 1988, atWalter Reed Army Medical Center and was buried with full military honors in Section 7-A (Grave 130) at Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Bessie Mitchell Clarke, is buried with him.[3]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the United States Army
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| Preceded by | Commanding General United States Army Europe 1960–1962 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General Seventh United States Army 1959–1960 | Succeeded by |
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