United States Constabulary   
U.S. Army of Occupation
Gilbert. W. Clarke
1st Bde. HQ in Wiesbaden - 1946-1949

G.W. Clarke - 1947
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Written by Mike Clarke, son of Gilbert W. Clarke.
     My father, Gilbert W. Clarke, was in the Constabulary, 1946-49. He met my mother at 1st Bde. HQ in Wiesbaden in 1947. She was a uniformed civilian (citizen of Luxembourg at the time) working in 1st Bde. HQ as a secretary. Her maiden name was Marcelle Govers. I'm including a photo of her as well, in I believe, 4th Armored Div-issued uniform. They got married in 1948 under the War Bride Act, and in early '49 they left the Constabulary for the states and other military assignments. My father died in 1997 but my mother, now 84, is doing well and living in northern Pennsylvania, where I reside as well. Evidently, in 1946, 1st Bde. HQ in Wiesbaden was first housed in the then Henkel Champagne Factory offices. According to my mother, they were still making champagne in the back, while the Constabulary HQ was in the front. I find that at least a little amusing.... but anyway, they later moved 1st Bde. HQ to the so-called "Camp Pieri" location, which to me, looks for all the world like a former German military installation of some kind, thus leaving the Henkel Champagne factory to its champagne-making devices. I'm including photos taken at both HQ locations. One of the files is titled "dave crocker - dad's best man 1948". Just as a matter of info, from what I've been told, Dave Crocker was the heir-apparent to some kind of manufacturing fortune... What that business was, I don't recall, but I believe it had something to do with the food industry. Another of my father's buddies was a certain "Mansfield" ... famous for shooting up jack rabbits with a machine gun and pilfered ammunition from the back of a jeep. (I'm tellin' ya, you can't make this stuff up!! LOL). He is pictured on the right in photo of the two Troopers at the the MP Desk at Brigade Headquarters. I don't know for sure if that was at the Henkel Champagne factory location or later at the Camp Pieri location, but I suspect it was at the Henkel location since this photo was taken by my father, who, after meeting and going out with my future mother, discontinued doing things like prolific picture taking.

 Mike Clarke


                
   Pfc G.W.Clarke -1st Constabulary Bde, Wiesbaden 1946             HQ 1st bde Main gate, (henkel champagne factory) Miller on duty, 1947





               
Camp Pieri Gate Sign                                                                                 USC MP Jeep with wagon




             
HQ 1st Constabulary Brigade, Wiesbaden-Biebrich Airfield 1947, (L-R)
 S-Sgt Gruelick (Mechanic), T-5 Wm Hutchins (Driver) & T-4 Charles Hartl (Clerk)                       T-Sgt E.L.Donelson




                  
                 1st bde hq mp desk- Mansfield on right                                     Camp Pieri guard (Dave Crocker) at main gate 1947-48




     
                         HQ 1st Constabulary brigade, 1947                       Constabulary troopers at rifle range


                
 Dave Crocker - G.W. Clarke's best man 1948    /    Cpl. G.W.Clarke, HQ 1st Constabulary Brigade, Wiesbanden (1948)




Marcelle Govers Clarke
1st Constabulary Bde. HQ in Wiesbaden in 1947

Mike Clarke's Email:
clarkemg@epix.net

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