Bruce C. Clarke

Bruce C. Clarke
General Bruce C. Clarke
Born	(1901-04-29)April 29, 1901 Adams, New York, U.S.
Died	March 17, 1988(1988-03-17) (aged 86) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1917–1921 1925–1962
Rank	General
Commands	Continental Army Command U.S. Army Europe U.S. Army, Pacific I Corps X Corps First Republic of Korea Army 1st Armored Division
Battles / wars	World War I World War II Korean War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (3) with "V" Device Air Medal Army Commendation Medal

Bruce Cooper Clarke was a United States Army general. He was a career officer who served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. He was the commander of Continental Army Command from 1958–1960, Commander, U.S. Army Europe from 1960-1962, and commanded the U.S. Army, Pacific from December 1954 to April 1956.

Biography

Clarke was born on a farm in Adams, New York, on April 29, 1901. He dropped out of high school to enlist in the Army in 1917, and gained appointment to the United States Military Academy through the New York National Guard. He graduated in 1925 with a commission in the Corps of Engineers. In addition to his degree from West Point, he earned a civil engineering degree from Cornell University and an LL.B. from La Salle Extension University. He also was an equivalent graduate of the National War College and is credited with starting the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy system.

During World War I, Clarke served in the Coast Artillery Corps.

In the Second World War, as a colonel and then a brigadier general, he commanded Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 4th Armored Division in Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army, leading it to victory over a superior German armored force at the Battle of Arracourt in September 1944. In December Clarke led the relief of St. Vith during the Battle of the Bulge, which slowed the German attack. Writing afterward, General Eisenhower credited Clarke's actions as the "turning point" in that battle.

During the Korean War, General Clarke commanded the 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from 1951 to 1953. He then transferred to Korea where he commanded I Corps in 1953 and X Corps from 1953 to 1954. He also trained the First Republic of Korea Army.

He was then assigned as Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific in Hawaii from 1954 to 1956. After his tour in Hawaii, he commanded the Seventh United States Army in Germany from 1956 to 1958.

He received a promotion to the rank of four-star general in August 1958. From 1958 to 1960 he commanded the Continental 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 of U.S. Army Europe, before retiring on April 30, 1962.

He and his wife, Bessie, had three sons and one daughter.

On October 18, 1971 the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States conferred upon Clarke, a 33rd Degree Freemason, 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.

Military decorations

Clarke's U.S. military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, three Army Distinguished Service Medals, three Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, and three Bronze Stars. He also received decorations from foreign countries including France, Germany, Great Britain, Korea, and the Philippines.

•   Distinguished Service Cross
•   Army Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
•   Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters
•   Legion of Merit
•   Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters and "V" Device
•   Air Medal
•   Victory Medal
•   American Defense Service Medal
•   American Campaign Medal
•   European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four campaign stars
•   World War II Victory Medal
•   Army of Occupation Medal
•   Korean Service Medal with two campaign stars
•   United Nations Korea Medal

Death and burial

Clarke died after a stroke on March 17, 1988 at Walter 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.

See also

• List of United States Army four-star generals
• List of recipients of the Silver Buffalo Award
• List of lieutenant generals in the United States Army before 1960
• List of La Salle Extension University people
• List of commanders of I Corps (United States)

References

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: [1]

• [2] Arlington National Cemetery