TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – A portrait of Cherokee Nation citizen and Navy Admiral Joseph James “Jocko” Clark was unveiled March 8 in the Oklahoma Senate chamber.

The Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund commissioned the portrait, which will hang in the Capitol building. It was created by Oklahoma City artist Mike Wimmer, who worked with the Navy to gather information about Clark’s accomplishments and was provided with two photos to create his work.

“Certain pieces resonate with me more than others and this was one of them. Admiral Clark’s service impacted the history of our country, touched thousands of lives and served as a role model for his fellowNative Americans and Oklahomans,” Wimmer said. “Our veterans don’t always get the respect and honor they deserve for the sacrifices they make for our country. I hope my work is a fitting tribute to this incredibleAmerican and Oklahoman. I’m proud to have had an opportunity to be a part of this special project.”

Charles Ford, president of the Historical Preservation Fund, said Clark was an important Oklahoman deserving of honor and remembrance at the Oklahoma Capitol. He said Clark was the first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy and had a distinguished military career.

Born near Chelsea in Indian Territory in 1893, Clark attended Willie Halsell College in Vinita and Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) in Stillwater. In 1913, he received an appointment to and was the first Native American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1917. He is the highest-rankingNative American naval officer in U.S history.

During World War I Clark commanded a destroyer. He graduated from the Naval Flight School in Pensacola in 1925. During World War II, he commanded the USS Suwanee and the USS Yorktown.

Clark was promoted to Rear Admiral in January 1944 and commanded the Task Force USS Hornet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. During the Korean Conflict, Clark was the commander of the Seventh Fleet.

He was famous for his self-proclaimed “Cherokee Strikes,” where he concentrated his fleet’s efforts on the destruction of enemy weapons and supplies behind enemy lines. The strikes served as a much-needed morale-boost for American frontline troops.

Adm. Wesley V. Hull, chairman of the Oklahoma War Veterans Commission, attended the ceremony and discussed Clark’s military awards, which include the Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Cross, Silver Star and the Legion of Merit, among others.

After his retirement from the Navy in 1953, Clark lived in New York City and was chairman of a construction and investment corporation. He was made honorary chief of both the Sioux and Cherokee Nations. A bust of him sits near the entrance of the Cherokee Heritage Center Museum in Park Hill.

He died on July 13, 1971, at the Naval Hospital in St. Albans, New York, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

In honor of Clark, the Navy named a guided-missile frigate the USS Clark in 1980. The ship’s nickname is the “Determined Warrior.”

Sen. Cliff Branan, R – Oklahoma City, sponsored the portrait during the unveiling.

“Not very often does an individual come along with such strength of character, honor and dedication to his country. Admiral Clark gave over 40 years of his life in service to the country he loved,” Branan said. “My father served as a naval carrier fighter pilot in the same theater in World War II as Admiral Clark. For this reason, my family and I are so proud to sponsor this work to ensure that his legacy and contributions to the freedoms, we so often take for granted, are never forgotten.”