Joseph "Jocko" Clark, born November 12, 1893 in the Cherokee Nation, in Indian Territory, is the first Native American to graduate from the US Naval Academy. Jocko attended Willie Halsell College, Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College (now OSU), before being appointed to the Naval Academy. He graduated as ensign when he graduated in 1917.
He served aboard the USS North Carolina during WWI. After the war, he graduated as a naval aviator from NAS Pensacola in Florida in March 1925.
He was stationed on the USS Yorktown when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In 1944, Clark was promoted to Rear Admiral. Subsequently, he was assigned to command the USS Hornet and commanded his task group in conjunction with Task Force in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
He served during the Korean War and was promoted to Vice Admiral commanding the 7th fleet before retiring from the Navy in December 1953, with the rank of Admiral. He passed away in July 1971.
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