Papers (1997, 1999, undated) and correspondence (1999) from United States Naval Officer Asa A. Clark, III prtaining to Clark's service and the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
Asa Allen Clark, III, was born in Pasadena, California, on April 18, 1917. In 1937, he entered the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Due to a National Emergency, his studies were reduced to three years and eight months before he graduated and became an Ensign on February 7, 1941. Following his graduation, he served on the USS Hovey, a destroyer ship in the US Navy, during World War II. The Hovey was operating twenty miles from Pearl Harbor when the Naval Station Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese air forces. He later saw action during several incidents in Oceania, including the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Bougainville campaign and the Battle of Peleliu. From January 1944 to December 1944, he commanded the USS Hovey and received a Ribbon for outstanding service. In February of 1945, he joined the USS Carmick and assumed command of the ship from May 1945 to June 1947. From August 1949 to November 1951, he served as part of the Staff of Commander Service Force, US Pacific Fleet, and then commanded the USS Alfred A. Cunningham. He received the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his service in Korea during 1952. He advanced to the rank of Captain on July 1, 1959. Clark died in October of 2003 at the age of 86.
This collection includes material related to Asa A. Clark, III and his service in the US Military. Included are US Naval Academy Class of 1941 newsletters (1997, 1999) with information on the then-upcoming 60th Anniversary Reunion; a typewritten personal history (undated) of Clark, including his date of birth, age, honors, licenses, military service record, etc.; and a written letter (1999) and a typescript transcript with a written biography of Clark including details about his family life and service history.
Gift of Capt. Asa A. Clark, III
Processed by Casey Harwick, January 18, 2024
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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