More detail on this person: Colonel (then Major) Niles CLARK passed away on Sunday. He had
been ill (several mini strokes and vascular dementia) for a few months. He was appointed Commander
of the 615th TC Detachment at Fort Bragg as the 57th AHC was being organized. He deployed to
Kontum with the unit in October 1967 and remained in the unit until April 1968 at which time he was
transferred to the 52nd CAB and became the battalion maintenance officer. He completed this tour in
Vietnam, his second, in mid September 1968. He was a fine officer and commander who led his unit
exceptionally well, especially during the hard times suffered by the Gladiator family. RIP, Niles.
(Darrell Anthony sent an email to our Gladiator Assn Members last night with info regarding the
service and funeral in Greenwood, SC on Saturday. Hope some of our family can make it)
From: Darrell Anthony
Colonel Niles Craig Clark, Jr., Ret. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather,
brother, and friend passed away surrounded by family at his home on February 12, 2017, at the age of
83.
He was the son of Niles. C. Clark Sr. and Agnes Anderson Clark of Waterloo, SC and is survived by
his loving wife of 60 years, Ruth Amis Clark of Greenwood, SC; three sons: Niles C. Clark III (Anna)
of Greenwood, SC; Thomas A. Clark (Doren) of McDonough, GA; and Steve M. Clark (Eileen) of Mount
Pleasant, SC; Eight granddaughters: Brandi Clark Cooke (Benjy) of Mount Pleasant, SC; Elizabeth
"Ruthie" Clark Godfrey (Wade) of Roebuck, SC; Laurie Clark Dunn (Colin) of Washington, DC; Rebekah
Clark Moody (Paul) of Atlanta, GA; Ashley C. Clark of McDonough, GA; Elizabeth Clark Kozma (Tom)
of Mount Pleasant, SC; Mary Shadler Clark of Charlotte, NC; and Caroline C. Clark of Mount Pleasant,
SC and six great-grandchildren; One brother; George Bailey Clark of Lynchburg, VA, two sisters:
Evelyn Clark Lorenz (Dick) Oliver Springs, TN and Martha Anne Elliott (Floyd) of Plano, TX.
Niles was a 1955 honor graduate of Clemson University where he was active in the band and Army
ROTC, he earned his MBA from the University of Tennessee. He served 32 years with distinction and
honor in the US Army earning the rank of Colonel. Niles was an Army aviator and maintenance test
pilot in both fixed wing and helicopters achieving his master army aviator designation. He served
three one year tours of duty in Vietnam. The family moved 27 times during his career and were
stationed throughout the US and twice in Germany. As a well-decorated soldier, his most prestigious
awards and decorations were: Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with "V" and 3
oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service medal, Air Service medal with 24 oak leaf
clusters, among others.
After retiring from military service, Niles moved to Waterloo, SC, where he raised beef cattle, grew
timber and was appointed the chairman of Laurens Co. Transportation committee. He took great joy in
improving the land on the family farm, driving his tractor and taking his grandchildren on hay
rides.
He was a member of the Laurens Co. Forestry Association, Laurens Co. Cattlemen's Assn. and the
Star Fort chapter of the Military Officer Assn., where he served as President and was on the board
of directors. Niles volunteered on church mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Honduras where
they constructed churches and schools. He was a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church and
the Charles Poore Sunday School Class.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Saturday at St. Mark United Methodist Church with Rev.
Carl Hunsucker and Rev. Barrett Alewine officiating.
Burial with Full Military Honors will be in Waterloo Cemetery, Waterloo, SC Saturday, February 18,
2017
Pallbearers will be grandsons-in-law along with A. Glenn Neil LTC, RET and Ray Davis.
Honorary escort will be members of the Charles Poore Sunday School Class.
The family will receive friends in the church Fellowship Hall from 1:00 to 2:00 Saturday afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark United Methodist Church, 550 Highway 72
Bypass NW, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Service at the St Mark United Methodist Church, 550 ByPass 72 NW, Greenwood, SC US 29649,
Saturday, February 18, 2017 2:00 PM
Burial information: Waterloo Cemetery, Waterloo, SC
This information was last updated 02/15/2017
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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
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