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Brigadier General <em>Clarence Deems, Jr.,</em> passed to his final rest at midnight October 6-7, 1946, at his residence, 200 Birch Street, Alexandria, Va. He was interred with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery on October 9, 1946.</p>
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Clarence Deems was a real soldier in every sense of the word; brave, faithful and efficient; a skilled strategist and tactician; an able administrator; a loyal friend, a devoted husband and father. In his death all who knew him feel a painful personal loss.</p>
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During the last two years of his life, being blind and crippled, Gen. Deems was confined to his residence. His mind remained clear in spite of these infirmities, and his keen and kindly wit, and interest in everything pertaining to the country and the army, endured to the end. Physical suffering could not dim his flaming spirit. Much of this courage and spirit were drawn from his devoted wife, who never left his side during the years when he was helpless.</p>
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General Deems was born May 23, 1877, at Fort Monroe, Va., of a long line of distinguished soldiers. His Great Grandfather was an officer of the Continental Army in the War of 1812, both his Grandfathers were general officers of the Union Army in the Civil War, and his Father, Colonel Clarence Deems of the Class of 1874, U.S.M.A., was an officer of the Coast Artillery.</p>
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Entering the U.S. Military Academy from the state of Maryland, General Deems maintained a consistently good standing in the upper half of his class (1900) and on graduation was assigned to the Coast Artillery, in which his father was then serving. He remained in the Coast Artillery until the separation of Field and Coast, in 1907. He then chose the Field Artillery in which he continued, serving in all grades, until his retirement in 1929.</p>
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General Deems enjoyed the advantages of a very thorough military education. Graduating from the Military Academy in 1900, he completed the course at the School of Application for Cavalry and Field Artillery (Fort Riley, Kans.) in 1904. In 1915 he graduated from the School of Fire for Field Artillery (Fort Sill. Okla.). In 1920 he graduated with the “First Honors” of his class from the Command and General Staff School (Fort Leavenworth. Kans.), and completed his schooling on graduating from the Army War College (Washington, D. C.) in 1921.</p>
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In recognition of his proficiency in military lore General Deems, upon graduation from the War College, was assigned for four years as chief instructor in Strategy, Leadership, Military History, etc., at the General Service Schools. In France, following the Armistice in 1918, he was designated as Director of the Army Artillery School at Valdahon, France. He organized and conducted the school until May, 1919, and then re-established it in the United States at Camp Knox, Kentucky.</p>
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During more than thirty years of active duty General Deems performed a wide variety of service, including much combat. Upon graduation from the U.S.M.A. he was sent to the Philippines, and in 1903 took part in the Lake Lanao Expedition against hostile Moros. In 1916 he commanded a battalion of the 11th Provisional Regiment of Field Artilllery, in the Mexican Border Patrol.</p>
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In August, 1917, General (then Major) Deems was promoted to Colonel in the National Army, and assigned to organize and command the 321st Field Artillery of the 82nd Division. Sailing for France in May, 1918, he went into action with his regiment in August, in the Aisne-Marne Offensive. From then until the Armistice, Colonel Deems was constantly at the front in command of his regiment, participating in the Alsne-Marne Offensive, the Marbache Defensive, and the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. After the Armistice he was designated as Commander of the 57th Field Artillery Brigade, 32nd Div., and later as Director of the Army Artillery School at Valdahon.</p>
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For his services in World War I General Deems was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, and was several times recommended for promotion to the grade of general officer, which he finally attained by special Act of Congress in June, 1940. He was retired from active service for physical disability in February, 1929, but continued thereafter to serve as Professor of Military Science and Tactics in the high schools of his home town of Alexandria, Va. During his career he served also as Instructor of the National Guard of many states, including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.</p>
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General Deems wore the campaign medals of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Border Service, and World War I with three battle clasps. He was a member of the Hereditary Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the Military Order of World War I, the American Legion, and the Society of Forty and Eight, and was a Thirty Second Degree Mason.</p>
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In 1903 General Deems married Harriet Roberts Brush, who like himself was the descendant of a line of soldiers. Her father was General Daniel H. Brush, Class of 1871, U.S.M.A., who as a boy was a veteran of the Civil War, in which his father also served as a general officer of the Union Army. General and Mrs. Deems had two daughters, Harriet Harmon, wife of Wolcott E. Lay, and Dorothy, wife of S. Spencer Nye. General Deems took great pride and delight in his family, including thirteen fine grandchildren with which his daughters presented him. He is survived by his wife and daughters, and twelve grandchildren.</p>
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<em>How sleep the brave, who sink to rest</em><br />
<em>With all their country’s wishes bless’d.</em></p>
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<em>—P. S. B.</em></p>
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