Walter Ballard Clark

Entered into eternal rest on the evening of May 29, 2010, Colonel Walter Ballard Clark, USA (Ret.), of Charleston, SC.  The relatives and friends of Colonel and Mrs.  Clark are invited to attend the funeral services of the former, Thursday, June 3, 2010, in Summerall Chapel at ten o'clock.  Burial services will be conducted at a later date in Beaufort National Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL, Wednesday from five until seven o'clock.

Walter B. Clark was born in Atlanta, GA, on August 22, 1930, the son of Walter Benjamin Clark and Eleanor Verdery Clark.  He was of the Protestant faith.  He retired as an infantry officer from the United States Army and was a veteran of Korea and Vietnam. 

His distinguished Army career spanned more than twenty-seven years. Following the Korean Conflict, Col. Clark served as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General at Fort Benning, General Joseph H. Harper.  He served as an advisor to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) and was assigned to the Army Staff in the Operations Center for the Chief of Staff of the Army.  Col. Clark was Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, US Forces Korea, serving under General Bonesteel. He commanded the 3^rd Battalion, 10^th Infantry Regiment, at Fort Carson, Colorado.  He was the Province Senior Advisor in Vinh Binh Province, South Vietnam.  Following his service in Vietnam, Col. Clark was assigned as Professor of Military Science at The Citadel, where he was later appointed Commandant of Cadets. 

Col. Clark was a graduate of The Citadel, Class of 1951.  He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College and the United States Army War College.  His numerous decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, Korea and Vietnam service medals, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. 

Walter B. Clark is survived by Ellen Perry Clark, his wife of fifty-seven years, of Charleston, SC; a daughter, Marion Clark, and her husband Michael McGhee of Greenwood, SC; two sons: Col. Benjamin Ravenel Clark and his wife Kimberly of Alexandria, VA, and David Ballard Clark of Kidder, MO; five grandchildren: Colleen McGhee and Sarah McGhee; McKenzie Clark; Andrew Clark and Kevin Clark and their mother, Melissa F. Clark.  Additionally surviving is a niece, Patricia Conner.  

The family requests that memorials be made to The Citadel Development Foundation, Class of 1951, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409.