R. Hunter Clarkson Explained

Robert Hunter Clarkson
Nickname:R. Hunter Clarkson
Death Date:1 July 1962
Death Place:Coronado Island, California
Placeofburial:Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Allegiance:Great Britain United States of America
Rank:Brigadier general Three stars
Unit:Transportation Corps, Delta Base Section, 6th Port Headquarters
Commands:6th Port Headquarters
Spouse:Louise Ingalls Barnard Wells (wife)

Robert Hunter Clarkson, was a native of Scotland, who served as a major in the British Armed Forces in World War I and as commander of the Sixth Port Headquarters, Transportation Corps in the US Army in World War II.[1] Under his command, the 6th Port was awarded the Meritorous Service Medal for superior performance in control and execution of its port missions.[2] Clarkson was awarded the Legion of Merit, among many awards. He was commissioned a brigadier general in 1949.[3] [4]

Clarkson served in British Army in World War I in the Royal Garrison Artillery Unit of the British Expeditionary Force in Palestine and Egypt from 1914 to 1920.

After his service in the British Army in World War I, Clarkson moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where he was Chief of Transportation for the Fred Harvey Company, founding the Indian Detour Transportation Company in 1924, after Harvey acquired a local tour company. The Indian Detour was an adventurous sightseeing trip featuring the romance, mystery and landscape behind the railroad tracks of New Mexico and in the Indian Southwest.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

At a Rotary Club Meeting he announced "We are interested in only one road and that is the National Old Trails and a good road from it to Grand Canyon, the latter to be built wherever the people of this county and the park service decide it should be built".[10] [11]

United States Army, Transportation Corps, Sixth Port Headquarters

In December 1942, Clarkson was called to serve in the United States Army and appointed major in the Transportation Corps Delta Base Section. He was connected with the 6th Port of Embarkation since early operations in North Africa and assigned as commander while the 6th Port was at Naples.[12] [13] [14] [15]

In 1949, Clarkson was commissioned as a brigadier general.[16]

Personal

In 1947, Clarkson moved to Coronado Island, California.[17] He was married to Louise née Wells.[18]

Death

Clarkson died at Coronado Island, California on July 1, 1962.[19]

References

  1. 284th Combat Engineers. 284th Combat Engineers. 284thCombatEngineers.com.
  2. News: 27 January 1945. 6th Port Given Service. 1. The Stars And Stripes, Marseille. 28 December 2021.
  3. News: 31 July 1943. Roll Of Honor. 6. Mediterranean Algiers Stars And Stripes. 28 December 2021.
  4. News: 5 July 1962. Gen. Clarkson services Friday. 6. Coronado Eagle & Journal. 28 December 2021.
  5. Book: Dye, Victoria E.. All Aboard for Santa Fe: Railway Promotion of the Southwest, 1890s to 1930s. 2016-04-25. University of New Mexico Press. 978-0-8263-3659-0. en.
  6. News: 13 July 1923. WILL AT ONCE BEGIN WORK ON THE MAINE-GRAND CANYON ROAD. 2. Flagstaff Coconino Sun. 28 December 2021.
  7. Book: Secord, Paul. Pecos. 2014. Arcadia Publishing. 978-1-4671-3237-4. en.
  8. News: 4 April 1924. SAYS HARVEY NOT IN FAVOR OF GALLUP TO CANYON LINE. 1. The Coconino Sun. 28 December 2021.
  9. Book: Riskin, Marci L.. The Train Stops Here: New Mexico's Railway Legacy. 2005. UNM Press. 978-0-8263-3307-0. en.
  10. News: 4 April 1924. SAYS HARVEY NOT IN FAVOR OF GALLUP TO CANYON LINE. 1. The Coconino Sun. 28 December 2021.
  11. News: 4 April 1926. MOST DIRECT ROUTE FROM COAST TO CANYON IS VIA CONGRESS AND JEROME. 13. The Coconino Sun. 28 December 2021.
  12. News: 11 September 1944. Hunter Clarkson in Charge of Allies' Biggest Port. 9. Santa Fe New Mexican.
  13. News: 28 August 1945. 4-Jeep Port group Came in Year Ago. 4. The Stars And Stripes, Marseille. 28 December 2021.
  14. News: 11 September 1945. Arles Closed, St. Vic Will Be. 1. Southern France, Stars And Stripes. 28 December 2021.
  15. Book: Bykofsky, Joseph. Sicily and Italy, Port Activity at Naples. Larson. Harold. 1990. Center of Military History, United States Army. 205. 56-60000.
  16. 25 March 1953. Congressional Record – House. Congressional Record - Bound Edition. 2304. GovInfo.gov.
  17. News: 3 July 1962. R. Clarkson Dies in Calif.. 1. Santa Fe Daily New Mexican. 28 December 2021.
  18. News: 19 June 1946 . State of New Mexico County of Santa Fe in the Probate Court in the Matter of the Estate of Louise Wells Clarkson . 6 . Santa Fe New Mexican . 6 May 2022.
  19. News: 3 July 1962. R. Clarkson Dies in Calif.. 1. Santa Fe Daily New Mexican. 28 December 2021.

External links

http://sam.nmartmuseum.org/objects/2930/portrait-of-hunter-clarkson?ctx=3766b5b7-a9d2-4d92-9f34-0dbd5b26ea62&idx=0