Description:

NAVY CROSS MARINE'S WOODROW WILSON ARCHIVE
Unique and extensive archive of BURWELL H. CLARKE, an enlisted Marine who was chosen for officer training and served in Haiti, Cuba, and other posts during the era of WWI. Clarke was awarded the Navy Cross on October 21, 1926 for sacrificing his life in the Denmark Lake explosives disaster. Lot includes five oversized documents of promotion or commendation, of which four are signed by President Woodrow Wilson: the first a partly printed D.S. as President, 1p. folio, Washington, October 4, 1916, an appointment commissioning Clarke as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marines under the traditional probationary period, boldly signed, "Woodrow Wilson" at bottom, counter-signed by Secretary of the Navy JOSEPHUS DANIELS. Clarke's promotion is re-written on an even more elaborate partly-printed D.S., 1p., vellum folio, Washington, March 16, 1917, with extensive and remarkable print engravings adorning the document, again counter-signed by Secretary Daniels. The lot includes an additional D.S. for promotion to First Lieutenant and another for Captain, both signed by Wilson and Daniels. The fifth partly printed D.S., 1p. folio, Scranton, January 23, 1925, certifies Clarke as having passed an International Correspondence School course in "Bookkeeping Accounting and Auditing". Boldly signed by famed Marine Corps Commandant, Major General "JOHN A. LEJEUNE". Included with the lot is a binder containing over fifty various documents relating to Captain Clarke's military career, with various officers' signatures, and many bearing official letterheads. Several highlights include: a war-dated partly-printed D.S., 1p., 4to., Washington, Nov. 24, 1914, Clarke's first promotion to corporal, signed by, "George Barnett", then Commandant of the Corps. Barnett was the first to serve the four-year period, and was replaced by Lejeune. Also included is a T.L.S. on official Marine Corps Headquarters letterhead, 2pp., 4to., Washington, January 25, 1917, a personal commendation written to Clarke and signed by Lejeune, congratulating Clarke for his leadership in St. Marc, Haiti during a Marine occupation there. Included on the second page is a typed letter from the citizens of St. Marc praising Clarke. Also present is a 1917 letter giving instructions to Clarke for setting up a surveillance and espionage operation on the North Coast of Cuba to watch for German U-boats. Additional documents include official correspondence such as communiqués on developments during the 1917 Cuban revolt, Clarke's enlisted man's discharge to become an officer, his assignments to expeditions in Haiti, and various personal correspondences. Various condition, most very good to fine. Should be examined!

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May 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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