Bruce C. Clarke

Infobox Military Person
name=Bruce C. Clarke
born= birth date|1901|4|29
died= death date and age|1988|3|17|1901|4|29


caption=General Bruce C. Clarke
nickname=
placeofbirth= Adams, New York
placeofdeath=
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=1917-1921 1925-1962
rank= General
unit=
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=World War I World War II Korean War
awards=Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star
relations=
laterwork=General Bruce Cooper Clarke was a commander of Continental Army Command from 1958-1960 and Commander, U.S. Army Europe from 1960-1962. He also commanded the U.S. Army, Pacific from December 1954 to April 1956.

Biography

Bruce Cooper was born on a farm in Adams, New York, on April 29, 1901 and 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 into the Corps of Engineers. In addition to his degree from West Point, he earned a civil engineering degree from Cornell University and an LLB from La Salle University. In addition, he was an equivalent graduate of the National War College and is credited with starting the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy system. From 1958-1960 he commanded the Continental Army Command, heading the entire Army school system which, at the time, had over 250,000 participants.

During World War I, Clarke served in the Coast Artillery Corps. In the Second World War, as a brigadier general, he led the relief of St. Vith during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 that 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 I Corps and the X Corps. He also trained the First Republic of Korea Army.

Peacetime major commands for General Clarke include Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from 1951-1953. After his tour in Hawaii he commanded the Seventh United States Army in Germany. He received a promotion to general in August 1958. From 1960-1962 he served as Commander in Chief of US Army, Europe before retiring on April 30, 1962.

Awards and decorations

Among General Clarke's many decorations are the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star , and numerous awards from other countries including France, Germany, Great Britain, Korea, and the Philippines.

Death and burial

Cooper died on 17 March 1988 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.

ee also

References

* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/bcclarke.htm] Arlington National Cemetery
*USGovernment|sourceURL= [http://www.usarpac.army.mil/history/cgbios/cg_clarke.asp]