On the Warpath in the Pacific: Admiral Jocko Clark and the Fast Carriers

by Clark G. Reynolds

When J.J. Clark graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at the end of World War I he was ready to be a pioneer in one of the great transformations of the U.S. Navy in the twentieth century - the change from a surface-only force to one in which aviation played a key if not determinant role. Under the leadership of the key aviation admirals, William Moffett and John Towers, "Jocko" Clark with other aviation-minded officers battled low budgets and unsympathetic policy makers to champion the development of naval aviation during the 1920s and 30s. Pearl Harbor proved them right. As captain of the new Yorktown (the original was sunk at Midway), Clark provided aggressive leadership in the capture of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. As a carrier task group commander, Clark was instrumental in the brilliant victory at the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which included the Marianas Turkey Shoot. He withstood numerous kamikaze attacks at Iwo Jima and Okinawa while seeing that Japan's airpower was destroyed. After the war he was instrumental in salvaging naval aviation from the attacks of other services and policy makers. During the Korean War he served as Commander Seventh Fleet in the all-important naval air support of that conflict. Naval historian Clark Reynolds is particularly well placed to write this book because he had access to family papers and was co-author of the Admiral Clark's autobiography.

Genres: Biography, World War II, Aviation

538 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Clark Gilbert Reynolds was a historian of naval warfare, with a particular interest in the development of U.S. naval aviation.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the Warpath is a good read and a surprisingly quick read at 509 pages. Reynolds writes about Admiral Clark often (Clark's uncle was Clarks Flag Lieutenant in WWII and Korea and Clark himself was ghost writer for Clark in Carrier Admiral). What was enjoyable about this book is the character Admiral Clark was. It is clear that Clark was a man of action and a great leader. The book alone is worth buying but the cd of interviews with people surrounding Clark make for great primary sources espically since many of the interviews are with Clark himself. This is one book I will reread like E.B. Potters works on Admirals Nimitz, Halsey and Burke.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to my father who served under Jocko Clark on the USS Yorktown during WWII. I learned a lot about the man, military operations in the Pacific, and what Dad went through. Clark had some interesting management theories - I'd read the book again just to gather them and note them all in one document.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The career of the US Navy's "fightingest" carrier admiral.