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Personal info

Full name
CLARK, Bertram James
Date of birth
3 May 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
O-1320429
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Platoon Commander
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
115th Infantry Regiment,
29th Infantry Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 December 1944
Place of death
The Sportzplatze and Hazenfeld Gut, Jülich, Germany
West of the Roer River opposite Jülich, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
P 12 10

Immediate family

Members
James A. Clark (father)
Anna M. Clark (mother)
Rosalie (Crawford) Clark (wife)
Linda A. Clark (daughter)

More information

2nd Lt. Bertram J Clark enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 2 June 1943.

Lt Clark began the assault on the Sportzplatze and the heavily fortified swimming pool just north and adjacent to the Sportzplatze from the woods just south of the facility on the Aldenhoven-Jülich Road. C Company was engaged in clearing the woods in the early morning of 8 December. As the units moved towards their objectives, heavy enemy fire struck the company with an enemy strong point located in a house in the woods. At least one assault gun was dispatched from the 747th Tank Battalion to aid C Company with this strong point.

He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for his action on that day. The citation cited: On 8 December 1944 after numerous unsuccessful attempts by Company C, 115th Infantry to neutralize three strongly-defended fortifications along the west bank of the (Roer) River, tanks were ordered forward to support the riflemen. Although the route of advance was under direct enemy observation and subjected to intense enemy artillery fire, Second Lieutenant Clark succeeded in guiding the tanks to their forward positions and successfully directed their fire upon the enemy positions. After several strong points have been neutralized by this fire, Second Lieutenant Clark returned to his company to lead his men in an assault upon the remainder of the enemy positions. Although the area was still under heavy enemy fire, Second Lieutenant Clark unhesitantly advanced forward calling on his men to follow. Inspired by his outstanding courage and determination, the platoon increased the momentum of the assault and completely destroyed the enemy positions. Second Lieutenant Clark was seriously wounded during this action by enemy mortar fire and later died of his wounds." He died the next day.

Source of information: www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Jasper van Haren, Linda C. Gilliam