Joseph Clark was an admiral in the United States Navy, who commanded aircraft carriers during World War II.
Background
Joseph J. Clark was born to William A. and Lillie Berry Clark in Pryor in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Nation, before it became part of the state of Oklahoma.Joseph J. Clark was born to William A. and Lillie Berry Clark in Pryor in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Nation, before it became part of the state of Oklahoma.
Clark's nickname, "Jocko", originated at the Naval Academy: on one of his first days there, he was standing in ranks when a classmate called out "The Right Reverend J. Jonathan Jockey Clark!"
Education
Joseph attended Willie Halsell College in Vinita, Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (now named Oklahoma State University) in Stillwater, Oklahoma, prior to being appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he played on the lacrosse and soccer teams. He was commissioned as Ensign upon graduating in 1917.
Career
Known as Jocko from his days at the USNA, Clark became an aviator in 1925, and in 1931 commanded CV Lexington's air squadron. After serving as air officer of CVs Lexington and Yorktown, 1940-42, Capt Clark fitted out CVE Suwannee and commanded her in the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. Then he fitted out the new CV Yorktown. On 31 Aug 1943 Clark’s planes hit Marcus Island, destroying three quarters of the Japanese base. Five months later, 31 Jan 44, he was promoted to rear admiral. With his flag aboard CV Hornet for the rest of the war, Clark distinguished himself as commander of carrier task forces. Three strikes against Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima, including “Operation Jocko,”
June 1944, destroyed so many enemy planes that remnants of Adm Sadaichi Matsunaga’s 27th Air Flotilla had to be withdrawn from Iwo Jima. “This undoubtedly contributed to the conquest of Saipan," concludes Morison. After the war Jocko Clark was assistant CNO for air until Nov 48. He then commanded naval air bases and the 7th Fleet before retiring as a full admiral in Dec 53. (Morison, VIII, 238n.) His candid memoirs, written with Clark J. Reynolds, are Carrier Admiral (New York; McKay, 1967). He died 30 November 1971 at Sarasota, Fla.