R. Hunter Clarkson

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.[3] He was commissioned a brigadier general in 1949.[3][4]

Robert Hunter Clarkson
Nickname(s)R. Hunter Clarkson
Died1 July 1962
Coronado Island, California
Buried
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
AllegianceGreat Britain United States of America
Service/branch
Years of service
  • 1914–1920
  • United States 1942–1945
RankBrigadier general Three stars
UnitTransportation Corps, Delta Base Section, 6th Port Headquarters
Commands held6th Port Headquarters
Battles/wars
Awards
Spouse(s)Louise Ingalls Barnard Wells (wife)
Children
  • Lois C. Duval (daughter)
  • Robert H. Clarkson (son)

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.[4]

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".[8][10]

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.[4][11][12][13][14]

In 1949, Clarkson was commissioned as a brigadier general.[4][15]

Personal

In 1947, Clarkson moved to Coronado Island, California.[16] He was married to Louise née Wells.[17]

Death

Clarkson died at Coronado Island, California on July 1, 1962.[16]

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

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

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