Missing for over 80 years...
Name: Robert R. Clark
Occupations: Major, U.S. Army during World War II, in civilian life had been a Newspaper reporter.
Missing since 17 March 1944 from Raleigh, NC
Description: White Male with sharp features
Age: 33
Height: 5 feet, 9 inches
Weight: not stated
Hair: dark brown, closely cropped
Eyes: dark brown
Wore metal rimmed eyeglasses
Vehicle: 1941 Dodge 2 door Coupe, cream-colored, with New Jersey License plate (found abandoned 7 months later).
A 1941 Dodge Coupe similar to the one owned and driven by Major Robert R. Clark in 1944
Summary
Robert R. Clark was a newspaper reporter in civilian life who joined the New Jersey National Guard as a Lieutenant in 1935. When Japan attacked US forces in the Pacific on 7 December 1941, the United States entered World War II. National Guard units were activated and began serving with regular US Army units, both overseas and at home in America. By 1944, Robert R. Clark was a Major in the Army attached to the Southeastern Defense Command headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. He resided at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Park at the time.
The patch of the Eastern Defense Command in WW II which covered an area from New York to Pennsylvania. Major Clark had been assigned to that command previously and still wore a patch like this one on the shoulder of his uniform jacket.
Major Clark was reportedly last seen at a Fayetteville Street luncheonette near the Capitol in Raleigh, about noon on 17 March 1944, where he told a fellow officer that he was going to drive his own Dodge to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC and that he would return to prepare for a 16 day trip to visit all the bases in the Southeastern Defense Command area. His manner was normal. He paid the cashier for his lunch and walked out of the door never to be seen again.
72 hours later, he failed to meet with a lieutenant and private who had been assigned to accompany him on the official trip. He was declared AWOL, and a search for him and his car was initiated. The search involved Army, state and local police, and even the FBI.
Major Clark's girlfriend, a Miss Catherine Swanson, was located and questioned. They had met in New York and had conversed often by letter and phone. She had no idea what had become of him, nor did she feel that he would have intentionally disappeared. He loved his life in the Army and was hoping to get transferred to the European Theater.
Seven months after his disappearance, Major Clark's Dodge Coupe was found by a hunter. It had been hidden in a densely wooded area about 2 miles from Montrose, NC in Hoke County. The Coupe had been camouflaged with leaves, vines, and pine branches. Found in or near the car were three handbags, some personal items and some clothing. Inside one bag was a .22 automatic pistol, and in the car was a 30 caliber Springfield rifle. A small woman's valise was also found in or near the vehicle. The car, handbags, and clothing were mildewed and deteriorated from the weather. The sheriff of Hoke County felt that the car had been there since shortly after Major Clark went missing.
A 1903 Springfield National Match Rifle in .30-06. Major Clark was an accomplished rifleman who had won three medals in Army matches.
A large area search was conducted in the vicinity of the car but nothing further was found.
Both of Major Clark's parents had died when he was a boy. An Aunt and Uncle were his closest relatives, and they put up a $2,000 reward for information about his disappearance in hope of finding him. The reward went unclaimed.
Many theories were developed and scenarios considered. Some thought that he committed suicide. Others thought that perhaps he was murdered. Others thought that he decided to leave the army and intentionally disappeared. He remains missing 80 years later.
Source: The Devil's Tramping Ground and other North Carolina Mystery Stories, by John Harden (1949)
Name: Robert R. Clark
Occupations: Major, U.S. Army during World War II, in civilian life had been a Newspaper reporter.
Missing since 17 March 1944 from Raleigh, NC
Description: White Male with sharp features
Age: 33
Height: 5 feet, 9 inches
Weight: not stated
Hair: dark brown, closely cropped
Eyes: dark brown
Wore metal rimmed eyeglasses
Vehicle: 1941 Dodge 2 door Coupe, cream-colored, with New Jersey License plate (found abandoned 7 months later).
A 1941 Dodge Coupe similar to the one owned and driven by Major Robert R. Clark in 1944
Summary
Robert R. Clark was a newspaper reporter in civilian life who joined the New Jersey National Guard as a Lieutenant in 1935. When Japan attacked US forces in the Pacific on 7 December 1941, the United States entered World War II. National Guard units were activated and began serving with regular US Army units, both overseas and at home in America. By 1944, Robert R. Clark was a Major in the Army attached to the Southeastern Defense Command headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. He resided at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Park at the time.
The patch of the Eastern Defense Command in WW II which covered an area from New York to Pennsylvania. Major Clark had been assigned to that command previously and still wore a patch like this one on the shoulder of his uniform jacket.
Major Clark was reportedly last seen at a Fayetteville Street luncheonette near the Capitol in Raleigh, about noon on 17 March 1944, where he told a fellow officer that he was going to drive his own Dodge to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC and that he would return to prepare for a 16 day trip to visit all the bases in the Southeastern Defense Command area. His manner was normal. He paid the cashier for his lunch and walked out of the door never to be seen again.
72 hours later, he failed to meet with a lieutenant and private who had been assigned to accompany him on the official trip. He was declared AWOL, and a search for him and his car was initiated. The search involved Army, state and local police, and even the FBI.
Major Clark's girlfriend, a Miss Catherine Swanson, was located and questioned. They had met in New York and had conversed often by letter and phone. She had no idea what had become of him, nor did she feel that he would have intentionally disappeared. He loved his life in the Army and was hoping to get transferred to the European Theater.
Seven months after his disappearance, Major Clark's Dodge Coupe was found by a hunter. It had been hidden in a densely wooded area about 2 miles from Montrose, NC in Hoke County. The Coupe had been camouflaged with leaves, vines, and pine branches. Found in or near the car were three handbags, some personal items and some clothing. Inside one bag was a .22 automatic pistol, and in the car was a 30 caliber Springfield rifle. A small woman's valise was also found in or near the vehicle. The car, handbags, and clothing were mildewed and deteriorated from the weather. The sheriff of Hoke County felt that the car had been there since shortly after Major Clark went missing.
A 1903 Springfield National Match Rifle in .30-06. Major Clark was an accomplished rifleman who had won three medals in Army matches.
A large area search was conducted in the vicinity of the car but nothing further was found.
Both of Major Clark's parents had died when he was a boy. An Aunt and Uncle were his closest relatives, and they put up a $2,000 reward for information about his disappearance in hope of finding him. The reward went unclaimed.
Many theories were developed and scenarios considered. Some thought that he committed suicide. Others thought that perhaps he was murdered. Others thought that he decided to leave the army and intentionally disappeared. He remains missing 80 years later.
Source: The Devil's Tramping Ground and other North Carolina Mystery Stories, by John Harden (1949)
