GENERAL MARK W. CLARK - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/25/1945 - HFSID 166907

MARK CLARK
Framed 31x24 display that includes a typed letter signed by Clark, an unsigned photo of him, and examples of the US 15th Army Group and British 8th Army insignia discussed by him in the letter
Typed Letter signed: "Mark W. Clark" as General, U.S.A., Commanding, 1 page, 7½x8½. Headquarters, United States Forces in Austria, 1945 August 25. On imprinted letterhead to Master Terry Longacre, Bethesda, Maryland. Begins: "Dear Terry". In full: "I have received your letter of August 9, and regret that I am unable to send to you one of my stars. However, I am enclosing a 15th Army Group insignia and the Crusader's Shield insignia of the British Eighth Army which was under my command as part of the 15th Army Group in Italy.On the red square of the 15th Army Group insignia is a white shield of blue waves symbolizing the Mediterranean Sea, as it was in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations that this army group was organized. Sincerely". Lightly creased with folds. Paper clip impression at the "M" of Mark. Framed with the two insignia mentioned: (1) British Eighth Army insignia, 1½x2¼. Blue background with a gold cross on a white shield. Slightly frayed at upper edge, else fine condition. (2) 15th Army Group insignia, 2½x2½. Red background with blue waves on a white shield. Fine condition. With original typed envelope, which is lightly creased and soiled. On May 2, 1945, less than four months before he signed this letter, General Mark Wayne Clark (1896-1984), as Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces in Italy during WWII, and his 15th Army Group had played a major role in ending the War by forcing the surrender of the German Army in Italy. Spearheading the pivotal spring offensive, Clark, his 15th Army Group and the many Allied divisions under his command pounded the mighty German front with massive air and ground attacks. Implementing Clark's expert strategy, the powerful Allied Army advanced steadily until it finally forced the defeat and surrender of over one million Axis Army troops in Italy. Only five days later, on May 7, 1945, the tragic War in Europe concluded with Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allied powers. Clark had taken charge of the 15th Army following his successful command of the 5th Army, which culminated on June 4, 1944 in the capture of Rome, the first enemy capital to be taken by the Allies. Six months later, Clark succeeded British General Harold Alexander as Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces in Italy (December 1944). At the time of this letter, Clark was serving as the Commanding General of the U.S. troops in Austria. He had received his fourth star in March 1945, five months before he wrote that he was unable to send one of his stars to his correspondent. After completing his assignment in Austria, the West Point graduate (1917) commanded the 6th Army in America. During the Korean War (1950-1953), General Clark assumed command of the United Nations forces in Korea from May 1952 until the armistice on July 27, 1953. Following his retirement later that year, he began his tenure (1954-1966) as President of The Citadel Military College, South Carolina (Clark is buried on the campus of The Citadel next to Mark Clark Hall). The general's accounts of his war experiences can be found his books, Calculated Risk (1950) and From the Danube to the Yalu (1954). Four items. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 31½x24.