Admiral Joseph James “Jocko” Clark
(1893-1971)
United States Navy

Accession number:
2015.01

Maker:
Mario Maresca
(1877-1957)

Historical period:
1949

Miltary branch:

Wars and Conflicts:
, ,

Type:

Dimensions:
H x W: 56 in. / 36 in.

Acquisition date:
2015

Credit line:
Gift of Adam Walsh, Ryan Weddle, Michael Klimkowski, and Michael Zampella

Location:
,

Provenance:

From 2015: The Army and Navy Club, gift of LCDR Adam Walsh USN, LT Michael Klimkowski USN, Lt. Michael Zampella USN, and LTJG Ryan Weddle USN

Label:

Admiral Clark was the first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy. He remains the only Native American to achieve four-star rank. His first assignments were aboard destroyers during World War I; he transitioned to naval aviation soon after. He commanded carriers USS Suwannee (ACV-27) and USS Yorktown (CV-10).

Clark was an aggressive commander, serving in the Fast Carrier Task Force. He captained the USS Yorktown during the Marianas Campaign and the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

He led the Cherokee Raids during the Korean War and commanded the Seventh Fleet. Awards include Navy Cross, Navy DSM, Army DSM, Silver Star, and the Legion of Merit. The guided-missile frigate, USS Clark (FFG-11) is named in his honor. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Called “the fightingest Admiral in the Pacific Theatre” by Fleet Admiral Nimitz, he is remembered for his famous saying:

“Watch every angle and fight for every inch."