Center Commanders

Rear Adm. Jeane R. Clark
July, 1954 -- Aug., 1955

Rear Adm. Jeane R. Clark (left), shakes hands with Capt. Donald F. McLean following their change of command ceremony.  This picture was taken from the July 2, 1954 issue of 'The Hoist.'

Rear Adm. Jeane R. Clark was born on Jan. 14, 1902 in Monona, Iowa. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1921 and commissioned an ensign on June 4, 1925.

Upon graduation, he joined USS Wyoming, flagship of the Scouting Fleet. When detached from Wyoming in September, 1926, he served on USS Barry, then USS Osborne. Between January and June, 1927 he was under instruction at the Navl Torpedo Station, Newport, R.I.

In 1930, he attended Mechanical Engineering at teh Postgraduate School in Annapolis and continued the course at Clumbia University. He received a Master of Science degree in 1932.

He next served on board USS Wickes and in June 1934, joined the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron Two.

From June, 1935 to May, 1938, he was an instructor in the Depatment of Marine Engineering at the Naval Academy, after which he reported to USS Astoria, operating with Cruiser Division Six Scouting Force.

He transferred to USS Buchanan in September, 1939 and served on that destroyer until September, 1940.

He then joined USS Boise, which arrived at Manila, Philippines, on Dec. 4, 1941, three days before the Japaense attacked Pearl Harbor. The ship was en route to Cuba in the southern islands when the United States entered World War II, and subsequently joined other vessels of the Asiatic Fleet. From December, 1941 to January, 1942, it patrolled part of the Malay Barrier, touching many ports in the Netherlands East Indies, and made a trip to Australia.

Rear Adm. Clark was assigned duty on the staff of the Postgraduate School at Annapolis and remained there until June, 1944. He assumed command of LST Group 38 in July, 1944.

After the cessation of hostilities, he served as flotilla commander of LST Flotilla Five until December, 1945, when he was assigned to the Amphibious Training Command, Pacific Fleet.

In April, 1946, he assumed command of the repair ship USS Ajax. Ajax took part in the first atomic bomb test in the Pacific area.

In August, 1947, he joined the staff of commander, Pacific Reserve Fleet, as assistant material officer.

He commanded the Long Beach Group, Pacific Reserved Fleet, from May, 1948 to April, 1950 and in June became commander, Destroyer Squadron Eleven.

From June, 1951 until reporting to NTC, he served successively as Professor of Naval Science, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Units at Northwestern University and Ohio State University.

His tour at NTC was his last prior to transferring to the retired list on June 1, 1955.

During this career, Rear Adm. Clark received the Legion of Merit with Combat Distinguishing Dive "V" (gold star); the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; the American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

He also received the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal; the United Nations Service Medal; the Philippine Defense Ribbon and the Philippine Independence Ribbon.

Center Commanders

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