CLARKE, George H. 1916-1943

CLARKE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 6/5/2017 at 22:03:56

Lt. George Clarke Is Missing In European Area

Lt. George H. Clarke, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Clarke of Felix township, is reported missing in the European war area. His parents received a message from the War Department last Wednesday night stating that George had been missing since November 28th. The family have had no further word since.

Lieutenant Clarke was in the air service and he qualified as a navigator when he completed his training eight months ago. Since that time he has had various assignments with convoys operating between this country and Europe and his folks have been hearing from him from time to time. He was home on furlough last summer.

Lt. Clarke was inducted into the armed service on June 24th, 1941, and took radio and gunnery training for six months at Las Vegas, New Mexico. He had ambitions of becoming an air pilot, but he was assigned to the duty of a navigator.

Prior to entering the service he was associated with his father and his brother Hugh in the operations of the Clarke seed corn producing and processing plant.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 December 1943, pg 1

-----------------------------------------------

Lt. Geo. L. Clarke Reported Dead By War Dept.

Lieut. George L. Clarke-Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Clarke of Felix Township

The parents were advised by the War Department on Tuesday that their son had died in Greenland on Nov. 28th. The Department gave no details of Lieut. Clarke's death. They stated a detailed report would follow the brief message. The parents were advised by the Department a little over a month ago that their son was missing, and family and friends clung to the hope that he might be alive.

Lt. Clarke was 28 years old. After entering the army in 1941 he took radio and gunnery training at Las Vegas, New Mexico. Later in the year he started training as an air cadet. He completed his training a little less than a year ago. He was at his home here for the last time during the summer when he was on his way east to a point of embarkation. His folks heard from him regularly until shortly before his death.

George Clarke was born and raised on a Felix township farm. He attended the Conrad high school and graduated. Later he attended the state agricultural college at Ames. Before entering the armed service he was associated with his father and brother in the management of the Clarke farm and Hybrid Seed Corn business. George was as good as they make 'em.

Surviving are the parents, one brother, Hugh, and two sisters, Mrs. T. H. Ahrenkiel and Anne, who is a student at Iowa State college.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 13 January 1944, pg 1