During the Korean War, he led again a carrier Task Force and subsequently commanded the 7th Fleet.

Born and raised in Indian Territory (which later became part of Oklahoma) and a member of the Cherokee Nation, in 1917 he became the first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy.

"[2] His wife, Olga Clark, néé Chubarova, was the widow of chess world champion José Raúl Capablanca.

In 1925, he helped Commander John Rodgers prepare for the first West Coast–Hawaii flight in 1925, receiving a letter of commendation for this service.

He was the aeronautical member of the Board of Inspection and Survey, Navy Department, from 1933 to July 1936, and during his next tour of sea duty July 1936 to June 1937, served as the Lexington's assistant air officer and carrier representative[4] at Fleet Air Detachment, NAS San Diego, California.

He was in that position when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and returned to his former post with Yorktown in time to participate in raids on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.

At the start of U.S. involvement in World War II, Clark was known as an aggressive commander, ready to take his group into battle.

[5] He commanded the escort carrier USS Suwannee in the Atlantic Ocean and off the coast of North Africa during the allied landings of november 1942 (Operation Torch).

[b] During Clark's command, Yorktown became the setting for the documentary The Fighting Lady, which detailed World War II aircraft carrier operations.

Since all of the task group command slots were occupied, Clark hoysted his flag aboard the new aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-12).

[c][d] But Mitscher soon became disappointed with the performance of Rear Admiral Charles Alan Pownall commanding Task Group 3 and replaced him with Clark.

After retiring from the navy, he lived in New York City, where he was chairman of Hegeman - Harris, Inc., an investment company.