Comments on: The American Eagle: Mark W. Clark http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Mon, 20 May 2013 07:22:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John Cunningham http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-265622 John Cunningham Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:48:01 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-265622 Mark Clark was a glory seeking malcontent who put himself before his troops. His decision to enter Rome, rather than as a buffer to the other troops fighting in the area, just shows his lack of ability. Mark Clark was a glory seeking malcontent who put himself before his troops. His decision to enter Rome, rather than as a buffer to the other troops fighting in the area, just shows his lack of ability.

]]> By: QB http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-244404 QB Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:58:40 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-244404 Results speak for themselves. The campaign in Italy was pretty much a botched affair from the start that was only rescued by the valour of the men fighting the battles and slogging from mountaintop to mountaintop. While you can't lay all of the blame on Clark for Salerno,(he hardly had adequate resources as compared to those given to Montgomery and Bradley at Normandy). His subsequent handling of the campaign, especially Anzio (he did choose and supervise Lucas), the often overlooked debacle at Cisterna and his handling of the taking of Rome rather than encircling the Germans by closing the Valmonte gap speak volumes for his lack of good generalship. Being somewhat of a glory hound is probably part and parcel of wearing the stars and commanding an army. But glory comes with victories and holds up with the passage of time. I've been previlged to have known and talked with quite a few veterans of the Italian theatre and not one has ever said anything good about Mark Clark! Conversly, I have heard nothing but praise on Patton (although not very liked, well respected and vets I have talked with are proud to have served in his army). Clark just doesn't hold up well under the light. Results speak for themselves. The campaign in Italy was pretty much a botched affair from the start that was only rescued by the valour of the men fighting the battles and slogging from mountaintop to mountaintop. While you can't lay all of the blame on Clark for Salerno,(he hardly had adequate resources as compared to those given to Montgomery and Bradley at Normandy). His subsequent handling of the campaign, especially Anzio (he did choose and supervise Lucas), the often overlooked debacle at Cisterna and his handling of the taking of Rome rather than encircling the Germans by closing the Valmonte gap speak volumes for his lack of good generalship.

Being somewhat of a glory hound is probably part and parcel of wearing the stars and commanding an army. But glory comes with victories and holds up with the passage of time. I've been previlged to have known and talked with quite a few veterans of the Italian theatre and not one has ever said anything good about Mark Clark! Conversly, I have heard nothing but praise on Patton (although not very liked, well respected and vets I have talked with are proud to have served in his army).

Clark just doesn't hold up well under the light.

]]> By: Bill Pratt http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-243992 Bill Pratt Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:09:10 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-243992 Oooo, the decision to re-embark from Salerno is a contentious one, are we headed there next? It seems Clark gets the most heat later for heading for Rome, the so-called "Glittering Prize", instead of closing the Valmonte gap, but the question may be was Alexander's notorious loose rein on his commanders to blame here just as much as Clark's hubris? Another interesting question: Was Clark's decision to wheel through the Alban hills militarily sound. Many have noted, as did Clark, that the roads to the north through the mountains were sufficient for the 14th Panzer Corps' escape. If Clark would have thrust north to Valmonte, the Roman traffic jam that stifled the pursuit would have been even worse. Oooo, the decision to re-embark from Salerno is a contentious one, are we headed there next? It seems Clark gets the most heat later for heading for Rome, the so-called "Glittering Prize", instead of closing the Valmonte gap, but the question may be was Alexander's notorious loose rein on his commanders to blame here just as much as Clark's hubris? Another interesting question: Was Clark's decision to wheel through the Alban hills militarily sound. Many have noted, as did Clark, that the roads to the north through the mountains were sufficient for the 14th Panzer Corps' escape. If Clark would have thrust north to Valmonte, the Roman traffic jam that stifled the pursuit would have been even worse.

]]> By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-243925 Rob Citino Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:32:03 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-243925 Ross-- My point precisely. Historians make their judgments, of course, but at the very least, they need to take into account opinions from the period! --RC Ross–
My point precisely. Historians make their judgments, of course, but at the very least, they need to take into account opinions from the period!
–RC

]]> By: Ross http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-241886 Ross Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:20:51 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-241886 Reading through the papers of Marshal of the RAF Sir John Slessor today at Kew and in a memo to Portal in 1944 he described Clark as the best ground commander in theatre. Hardly faint praise from a man who could be very citical when he wanted to. Ross http://warstudies.wordpress.com Reading through the papers of Marshal of the RAF Sir John Slessor today at Kew and in a memo to Portal in 1944 he described Clark as the best ground commander in theatre. Hardly faint praise from a man who could be very citical when he wanted to.

Ross
http://warstudies.wordpress.com

]]> By: Dave T http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-240347 Dave T Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:00:05 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-240347 I can think of only one person who was more of glory-hound than Patton and a greater image-cultivator than Rommel and that would be MacArthur. He made them both look like amateurs. Now theres a subject for your next rumination on leadership Dr. C. I can think of only one person who was more of glory-hound than Patton and a greater image-cultivator than Rommel and that would be MacArthur. He made them both look like amateurs.

Now theres a subject for your next rumination on leadership Dr. C.

]]> By: Luke Truxal http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-240250 Luke Truxal Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:06:55 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-240250 Also not just what his peers thought but who were the peers? Also not just what his peers thought but who were the peers?

]]> By: Cap'n Dave http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-239310 Cap'n Dave Sun, 04 Apr 2010 21:19:20 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-239310 There is a saying in the army that may help here: "you can fool your boss, and you can fool your soldiers, but you can't fool your peers." What do Clark's peers think? There is a saying in the army that may help here:

"you can fool your boss, and you can fool your soldiers, but you can't fool your peers."

What do Clark's peers think?

]]> By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-239099 Rob Citino Sun, 04 Apr 2010 03:41:15 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-239099 And this is why I love you both. :) And this is why I love you both. :)

]]> By: Luke Truxal http://www.historynet.com/the-american-eagle-mark-w-clark.htm#comment-239031 Luke Truxal Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:06:32 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13682192#comment-239031 I spell Eisenhower the same way Summersby did. You spell it I-L-I-K-E-I-K-E. I spell Eisenhower the same way Summersby did. You spell it I-L-I-K-E-I-K-E.

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