Clarke, Bruce Cooper, born on 29-04-1901, on a farm in Adams, New York, the son of Matthew John and Isola Veneta, born Stevens Clarke,.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.
During World War I, Clarke served in the Coast Artillery Corps .
In December 1940, Bruce was sent to England as military observer. Upon his return in the United States, Major Clarke was assigned to organize and command the 24th Engineer Battalion of the 4th Armoured Division, nicknamed “Name Enough”
which was being activated at Pine Camp, New York. On 24-12-1941, he was promoted to the grade of lieutenant colonel. Three weeks later, he became the Chief of Staff of the 4th Armoured Division and was promoted to the grade of colonel on 01-02-1942.
He served in this capacity until 01-11-1943, when he assumed command of Combat Command A of the Division. In December 1943, Colonel Clarke’s combat command arrived in England.
He commanded Combat Command A through the flight in Normandy and other regions of France. Colonel Clarke was reassigned to the 7th Armoured Division, “Lucky Seventh” to command Combat Command B in early November 1944. During its service during World War II, the division captured and destroyed a disproportionate number of enemy vehicles and took more than 100.000 prisoners.
A few days later, he was promoted to the grad of Brigadier General. On June 20, he was reassigned to the 4th Armoured Division as Division Commander. General Clarke was then sent to the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operations. He concluded his active service on 30-04-1962 and on 1 May was entered on the list of retired officers in the rank of General.
Death and burial ground of Clarke, Bruce Cooper.
General Bruce Clarke, here with the German Chancellor Willy Brandt
, died of a stroke, at the old age of 86, on 17-03-1988 and is buried on the Arlington National cemetery in Section 7 A. His wife, Bessie Mitchell Clarke, is buried with him. Next to him the commanding 101 Airborne, “Screaming Eagles”
General Maxwell Davenport Taylor,
the former world champion boxer
and technical sergeant Joe “Barrow” Louis and marine corps private and later actor, Lee Marvin
He had three sons, Gordon Mitchell a colonel in the American Army, Bruce C, Jr Clarke
.Bruce was the godson of West Point’s class of 1925, David (Eileen)
and an adopted sister, Lisa (Ludlow).
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