The third name on this list is Private Herbert J Clarke. This is a bronze plaque honoring New York based soldiers who died in France during World War I. Private Clarke was among the deceased. He is among the 590 soldiers from New York City who died in service to their country in France during 1918-1919.

Pvt Clarke's commanding officer was 1st Lieut. Alfred K. Taylor who wrote a very long letter of condolence to Pvt Clarke's parents. In it, Lt Taylor described the events surrouding their son's death in a battle in France. The full text of the letter can be read here.


Here is an excerpt:

The hardest thing in war for an officer is not facing danger or death, but it is losing men. When you have been through the jaws of death with the men you command and see them obey every order unflinchingly, go forward into machine gun and shell fire without hesitation, knowing that at any minute they may be wounded or killed, even volunteer for duties of danger, always helping each other, you love than and admire them more than you can tell. Our company is unusually fine, and the men who come to us from us state just a short time before we left Camp Upton did more than their share to make it so. They are a splendid lot. Herbert was one of these, and his memory is held very dear by the men and officers of the company, for he was cheerful, willing, courageous, and a constant example of manliness and fine soldierly spirit. It was indeed hard that he had to be taken away.