By Frederick N. Rasmussen , fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com|June 29, 2009
Emerson V. Clarke Jr., a retired Aberdeen Proving Ground physicist and a decorated World War II infantryman, died Thursday of pneumonia at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. The longtime Bel Air resident was 85.
Born in Baltimore, Mr. Clarke spent his early years in Overlea before moving with his family to a home on Mayfield Avenue.
After graduating from Polytechnic Institute in 1941, he went to work at the old Glenn L. Martin Co. plant in Middle River, building Martin B-26 Marauder bombers, and was a supervisor at the time when he was inducted into the Army in 1944.
Mr. Clarke served with Company C, 417th Infantry Regiment, 76th Division in Europe. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and participated in the crossing of the Sauer River at Echternacht, Luxembourg, into Germany.
After he was hospitalized for frozen feet, he was assigned to the 218th Signal Depot Company in Wales, and then returned to Germany, where he joined occupation forces at Osterholz-Scharmbeck.
Discharged in 1946 with the rank of master sergeant, Mr. Clarke's decorations included a Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Sharpshooters Badge.
Mr. Clarke enrolled under the GI Bill of Rights at Loyola College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physics in 1950. He also completed graduate courses at the University of Delaware.
In 1950, Mr. Clarke began his career at APG in the Ballistics Research Laboratory.
"At BRL, he worked on problems related to ignition, ballistics instrumentation, transducers, range operations, and conducted ballistic measurements on a wide range of artillery weapons," said a son, Martin J. Clarke of Catonsville.
Mr. Clarke, who had lived in Loch Raven Village, moved to Pylesville in 1979. Since 1994, he had been living in Bel Air.
He had volunteered with Catholic Charities and was active in the Christian Family Movement. He also had served on the John Carroll School's board of advisers.
Mr. Clarke and his wife were active in a greyhound rescue program and adopted three of the former racing dogs.
He enjoyed woodcarving, sketching and writing a World War II memoir.
"He had written three volumes of his World War II experiences that were privately printed and given to family members and friends," he son said.
Mr. Clarke was a communicant and usher at St. Margaret Roman Catholic Church in Bel Air.
A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. today at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church, 812 Reckord Road, Fallston.
Also surviving are his wife of 30 years, the former Joan V. Koerber; three other sons, Michael J. Clarke of Ocean City, Jerome J. Clarke and Lawrence J. Clarke, both of Los Angeles; a daughter, Veronica M. Clarke of Ellicott City; a stepson, Robert Koerber of San Diego; a stepdaughter, Bonnie Lee Gruse of Bel Air; a brother, Edward J. Clarke of Baltimore; and eight grandchildren. An earlier marriage to the former Dolores Ross ended in divorce.
