Bruce C. Clarke

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
Clarke 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 Extension 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 commanded Combat Command A (CCA) of the U.S. 4th Armored Division in Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army. Clarke 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.

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, 33 degree, U.S. Army Ret., the Grand Cross of the Court of Honor. This is the highest Masonic award, with only 11 holders out of 600,000 members in the Scottish Rite in that Jurisdiction.

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.


 * US-DSC-RIBBON.png Distinguished Service Cross
 * Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal
 * SilverStar.gif Silver Star
 * Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
 * Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star

Death and burial
Clarke died on March 17, 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.