JAMES S. CLARK, CDR, USN

James Clark '35

Date of birth: October 2, 1912

Date of death: June 14, 1944

Age: 31

Lucky Bag

From the 1935 Lucky Bag:

JAMES SEERLEY CLARK

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

"Jim" "Jimmy"

AFTER early successes in the Boy Scout movement, this precocious youth mustered up all the nautical sentiment in Cedar Rapids, and proceeded to prolong his activities along these lines by entering the Naval School. Yes, indeed, our Jim started out with no less than thirty-one merit badges. Thus did he place his classmate under a severe handicap way back in Plebe Summer. Since then, his accomplishments have proceeded scholastically and athletically. A water polo player of no mean ability, he managed to capture himself the coveted block "N." Concerning his additional activities, it need only be said that the Logs of the past four years have been well seasoned with his work. And ask Isham Jones if James can lead a band!

Water Polo 4, 3, 2, 1, N. Art Club 3, 2, 1. Log Staff 3, 2, 1. 1 P.O.

JAMES SEERLEY CLARK

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

"Jim" "Jimmy"

AFTER early successes in the Boy Scout movement, this precocious youth mustered up all the nautical sentiment in Cedar Rapids, and proceeded to prolong his activities along these lines by entering the Naval School. Yes, indeed, our Jim started out with no less than thirty-one merit badges. Thus did he place his classmate under a severe handicap way back in Plebe Summer. Since then, his accomplishments have proceeded scholastically and athletically. A water polo player of no mean ability, he managed to capture himself the coveted block "N." Concerning his additional activities, it need only be said that the Logs of the past four years have been well seasoned with his work. And ask Isham Jones if James can lead a band!

Water Polo 4, 3, 2, 1, N. Art Club 3, 2, 1. Log Staff 3, 2, 1. 1 P.O.

Loss

James was lost when USS Golet (SS 361) was sunk, probably by Japanese surface forces on June 14, 1944. He was the boat's commanding officer; he had taken command only a few weeks before, in May 1944 (per the now-broken link http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommanders5.html).

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Known as “Archie,” he went to Benjamin Franklin Junior High School and then graduated in 1930 from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. Alpha Rho; A. D. S.; Hi-Y, Secretary ‘30; Junior Play ’29; Pulse newspaper reporter; Football ’28; Basketball ’29; Quill and Scroll ’30.
He also attended the Werntz preparatory school at Annapolis. At the Naval Academy, James was ranked fifth among the individual scorers in the eastern intercollegiate water polo conference during the season which closed in March 1935. He played at a forward position scored ten touch-goals, and three thrown goals for a total of thirty-six points. The conference leader, Mulcahy of Columbia, scored 48 points. The Navy team was runner-up for title honors in the six-team league.
James was the son of District Judge Atherton B. and Mrs. Clark of Cedar Rapids.

James' previous billet had been XO of USS Swordfish (SS 193). (Swordfish was lost in early January 1945; it's likely he knew some or all of the men who were lost.)

His wife was listed as next of kin.

Photographs

Career

From the now-broken link http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommandersclassyear3.html:

Duty cfo Swordfish 1 Jul 1939

Communications Officer USS Swordfish (SS-193) 22 Jul 1939 - 1 Nov 1940

Executive Officer USS Swordfish (SS-193) Sep 1942 - 31 Mar 1943

Executive Officer USS Archerfish (SS-311) 4 Sep 1943 - Jan 1944

Executive Officer (PCO?) USS Golet (SS-361) 8 Mar 1944 - May 1944

Captain USS Golet (SS-361) 28 May 1944 - Jun 1944

Lieutenant (j.g.) 6 Jun 1938

Lieutenant 1 Jan 1942

Lieutenant Commander (T) 1 May 1943

Commander (T) 1 Mar 1944

Silver Star

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander James Seerley Clark (NSN: 0-75043), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Assistant Approach Officer and also as Torpedo and Gunnery Officer of the U.S.S. SWORDFISH (SS-193), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific Area during World War II. During four hazardous war patrols of his Submarine, Lieutenant Commander Clark rendered invaluable services by his skillful maintenance of torpedoes, insuring consistently straight, accurate runs, and by his splendid initiative in effectively solving the torpedo problem despite severe enemy depth charging and bombing. When the SWORDFISH was assigned two special missions to Corregidor Fortress, Lieutenant Commander Clark greatly assisted in the successful execution of these important tasks. His outstanding ability and inspiring leadership contributed materially to the destruction of eleven hostile vessels and the damaging of another, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 02121 (October 22, 1943)
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Job: Assistant Approach Officer
Vessel: U.S.S. Swordfish (SS-193)

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together, or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.