From the Danube to the Yalu

by Mark W. Clark

Overview

"[A] frank, instructive and, on the whole, well-written account of the problems, both military and political, which faced General Mark Clark between May 1952, when he was appointed Commander of United Nations Forces in Korea, and the signing of the armistice in July 1953... the book is... a combination of military prowess, honesty of purpose, and considerable political sagacity." — International Affairs

"General Clark firmly believes that 'we could have obtained better truce terms quicker, shortened the war and saved lives if we had got tough sooner.' His book explains why he thought so and gives as well detailed accounts of the prisoner of war controversy, truce negotiations, relations with President Syngman Rhee, and other matters of administration... the honest opinions of a good soldier who obeyed orders even when they were contrary to his deepest convictions." — International Journal

"General Clark gives a blow-by-blow account of the Korean negotiations leading up to the armistice... General Clark speaks for those Americans who deplore 'soft' handling of Communism and feel that peace will come to us only if we are strong, if the Russians and their followers know we are strong, and if they are convinced we have the determination and courage to use that strength both politically and militarily to achieve victory." — Ordnance

"[A] book that should be read by every American citizen who wishes to be well informed on the subject of dealing with the Communists... a fascinating account of the first two years of the cold war." — Military Affairs

Product Details

BN ID:	2940184593210
Publisher:	Plunkett Lake Press
Publication date:	07/07/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Born in Madison Barracks, New York, Mark Wayne Clark (1896-1984) was a third-generation soldier, commissioned at West Point in 1917. He sailed for France in 1918, was wounded in combat and returned to the United States in 1919 to serve in various Army posts before graduating from the Command and General Staff School (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas) in 1935, and from the Army War College (Washington DC) in 1937. He was then assigned to the staff of the 3rd Division at Fort Lewis, Washington and was briefly Chief of Staff of the Army Ground Forces before taking command of ground forces in the European Theater of Operations in June 1942 under General Eisenhower.

Clark went by submarine to then hostile French Morocco in October 1942 to meet with French officers loyal to the Allies. At age 46, he became the youngest three-star general in the Army. After planning the North African invasion of November 1942, he commanded the Fifth Army in Italy, which he had organized and trained in North Africa in 1943 for the invasion of Italy, and later the 15th Army Group which combined the Fifth and the British Eighth Army joined by Indian, South African, Australian, New Zealand, anti-Fascist Italian, Polish, Jewish and Brazilian brigades. He led the Salerno and Anzio landings, the costly charge of the 36th Division at the Rapido River and the bombing of the Monte Cassino Abbey. After the German forces in Italy surrendered in May 1945 following the Allies’ final push into the Po Valley, Clark became commander of US Occupation Forces and High Commissioner in Austria. Later, as Deputy Secretary of State, he helped negotiate a treaty for Austria.

In 1949-50, General Clark was Chief of Army Field Forces. In April 1952 he succeeded General Matthew Ridgway in Tokyo as UN Commander in Korea and Commander in Chief of the US Far East Command. He signed the Korean armistice on July 27, 1953.

Clark retired in October 1953 after 36 years in the Army. In 1954 he became president of the military college The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, a position he held until 1965.