GENERAL MARK W. CLARK - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/19/1976 - HFSID 207762

MARK W. CLARK
Mark W. Clark sends a typed letter answering a question from a collector about the most memorable part of World War II.
Typed Letter signed: "Mark Clark", 8½x11. On letterhead of The Citadel Military College. Charleston, South Carolina, 1976 January 19. To Gary Williamson, Raleigh, North Carolina. In full: "Your letter of January 13 has been received and I note your interest in World War II leaders. It's rather hard to pick out one event in a great war and call it the most memorable one; however, I presume as far as I was concerned, I was more thrilled and honored, and pleased to be the American Commander who took the surrender of the German Commander-in-Chief of all his German Ground Forces that were fighting in Italy. That took place at my headquarters in Florence, Italy on May 4, 1943. I suggest you get my book, 'Calculated Risk', published by Harper Brothers from your Library. It's my story of the Italian Campaign and tells in detail the surrender and other aspects of the war. You could pick out other items of interest to you. All my best wishes. Sincerely." Mark Wayne Clark (1896-1984), who assumed command of the Fifth Army in North Africa in 1943 and commanded the Fifth Army in the invasion of Italy in 1944, got his fourth star in March 1945. He accepted the surrender of German forces in Italy and Austria and, from 1945 to 1947, was the U.S. High Commissioner in occupied Austria. In 1953, as Commander in Chief of the United Nations Command, he signed the military armistice between the U.N. Command and the North Korean Army and Chinese People's Volunteers in Korea. That year, he also began his 12 years of service as President of The Citadel. He is buried on the campus of The Citadel next to Mark Clark Hall. Slightly creased. Fine condition.