Corbett Clark was a decorated war hero who cared for others on and off the battlefield.
“He wasn’t in the military, the military was in him,” said his daughter Susan Meredith.
The Atlanta native earned medals and awards including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Independence Medal, Army of Occupation (Germany) Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and American Campaign Medals for Luzon and New Guinea.
“His insignia reflected him as a person,” said Meredith. She said he was an influential man people loved to be around: “Everyone was proud of my dad.”
Maj. Clark won the Silver Star for going behind enemy lines to obtain a Japanese general’s surrender.
“He led with a quiet dignity; they respected him so much,” Meredith said.
His career took his family all over the United States and Germany. A military intelligence assignment gave Clark the opportunity to learn Russian.
He retired from the military in 1961 but he held onto his Russian and taught the language at Gordon High School. He also worked in the civilian personnel office at Fort McPherson.
Corbett Ward Clark, of Atlanta died Friday of pneumonia. He was 93. A funeral service was held Tuesday at Columbia Presbyterian Church, 711 Columbia Dr., Decatur. A.S. Turner & Sons funeral home was in charge of arrangements.
Clark had a passion for education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in military history from the University of Maryland.
“I was 9 years old when I saw him graduate college. I knew I wanted to go,” said his daughter Nancy Cook.
In 2001 Clark suffered a heart attack and was given two weeks to live. Students of Sugar Hill Elementary school wrote letters to Clark for Veterans Day, and “It’s like it gave him a new will to live,” said Cook.
In return, he wrote each student a poem.
Clark’s poems were among many of the ways he showed his appreciation to others. While in the military he learned calligraphy, and he was a gifted writer. He wrote thank-you letters and poems for each nurse and doctor who helped him in the hospital.
His poems were put into in an anthology titled “Expressions from the Heart.” Clark also published his book of WWII experiences titled “From Hell to Surrender” in 2002.
“He worked hard all his life; he was appreciative of everything,” said Meredith. “He did so much for so many.”
Clark was predeceased by his wife Sarah Louise Morgan.
In addition to his two daughters he is survived by daughter Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald of Suwanee; five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
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