Clay, Lucius DuBignon (redirected from Lucius D. Clay)

Clay, Lucius DuBignon (dəbĭn`yən, dübēnyôN`), 1897–1978, American general, b. Marietta, Ga. A graduate of West Point and an engineering officer, he held many army administrative posts and became (1944) deputy director of the office of War Mobilization and Reconversion. Clay was (1945–47) deputy chief of the U.S. military government in Germany and in 1947 became commander of U.S. troops in Europe. He directed operations in the Berlin blockade as U.S. military governor (1947–49). Clay retired from the army as a full general in May, 1949, to enter private business. After the closing of the borders between East and West Berlin by the Communists, he served (Sept., 1961–May, 1962) as President Kennedy's personal representative in Berlin with the rank of ambassador. He wrote Decision in Germany (1950).