Robert T. Clark
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Robert T. Clark is a retired United States Army
general. His last assignment was as the Commanding General, Fifth United States Army (later United States Army North) which he commanded from December 5, 2003 to December 2006.
He is a graduate of Douglas MacArthur High School
, San Antonio, Texas
, and a 1970 Distinguished Military Graduate of Texas Tech University
, where he was commissioned and awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. He later earned a Master of Science Degree in Political Science from Auburn University at Montgomery. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Air Command and Staff College, New Zealand Army Staff and Tactics Course, National War College, and the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course.
After a brief initial assignment at Fort Hood, he served in Vietnam
as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer with the 1st Cavalry Division. He was then assigned to the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis
, Washington, where he commanded a Rifle Company. After the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he commanded another rifle company in the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and later served as the Battalion Operations Officer. He was assigned to the Pentagon as a staff officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans and then became the Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Staff of the Army.
Clark was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) where he commanded the 3d Battalion, 327th Infantry, and later commanded the 3d Brigade during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After brigade command, he became Chief of Staff of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Following his promotion to Brigadier General, he became the Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, followed by an assignment at Fort Benning
as the Assistant Commandant of the Infantry School
and the Deputy Commanding General. He then became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Combat Developments, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
at Fort Monroe
. He then returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as the Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell from February 1998 to June 2000. During his tenure as commander, PFC Barry Winchell
was murdered by two Fort Campbell soldiers on suspicion of Winchell's homosexuality. Because of this and other incidents at Fort Campbell, his promotion to Lieutenant General was opposed by groups such as the National Organization for Women
and was delayed pending two Executive Sessions by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. The official Defense Department reports and the Senate Armed Services Committee exonerated Clark of wrongdoing and he received his promotion in November 2003.
After his tour at Fort Campbell, General Clark was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General, Fifth United States Army. Upon his promotion to Lieutenant General, he commanded Fifth Army until December 2006. He retired from active duty on January 31, 2007.
He is married and has a daughter and a son.
with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star with V Device and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal
, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge
, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge
, Ranger Tab
, and Army Staff Identification Badge
.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
Robert T. Clark is a retired United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
general. His last assignment was as the Commanding General, Fifth United States Army (later United States Army North) which he commanded from December 5, 2003 to December 2006.
He is a graduate of Douglas MacArthur High School
Douglas MacArthur High School (San Antonio, Texas)
Douglas MacArthur High School is a public secondary school in a northeast suburb of San Antonio, Texas in the United States. The school, a part of the North East Independent School District serves students in ninth grade through twelfth grade, with admission based primarily on the locations of...
, San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, and a 1970 Distinguished Military Graduate of Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, where he was commissioned and awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. He later earned a Master of Science Degree in Political Science from Auburn University at Montgomery. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Air Command and Staff College, New Zealand Army Staff and Tactics Course, National War College, and the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course.
After a brief initial assignment at Fort Hood, he served in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer with the 1st Cavalry Division. He was then assigned to the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
, Washington, where he commanded a Rifle Company. After the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he commanded another rifle company in the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and later served as the Battalion Operations Officer. He was assigned to the Pentagon as a staff officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans and then became the Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Staff of the Army.
Clark was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) where he commanded the 3d Battalion, 327th Infantry, and later commanded the 3d Brigade during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After brigade command, he became Chief of Staff of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Following his promotion to Brigadier General, he became the Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, followed by an assignment at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
as the Assistant Commandant of the Infantry School
United States Army Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade...
and the Deputy Commanding General. He then became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Combat Developments, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
Established 1 July 1973, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command is an army command of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is charged with overseeing training of Army forces, the development of operational doctrine, and the development and procurement of...
at Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
. He then returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as the Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell from February 1998 to June 2000. During his tenure as commander, PFC Barry Winchell
Barry Winchell
Barry Winchell was an infantry soldier in the United States Army, whose murder by a fellow soldier, Calvin Glover, became a point of reference in the ongoing debate about the law known as "Don't ask, don't tell", which required the US military to discharge service members based on sexual...
was murdered by two Fort Campbell soldiers on suspicion of Winchell's homosexuality. Because of this and other incidents at Fort Campbell, his promotion to Lieutenant General was opposed by groups such as the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
and was delayed pending two Executive Sessions by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. The official Defense Department reports and the Senate Armed Services Committee exonerated Clark of wrongdoing and he received his promotion in November 2003.
After his tour at Fort Campbell, General Clark was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General, Fifth United States Army. Upon his promotion to Lieutenant General, he commanded Fifth Army until December 2006. He retired from active duty on January 31, 2007.
He is married and has a daughter and a son.
Awards and decorations
His decorations and badges include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star with V Device and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge
Air Assault Badge
The Air Assault Badge, pictured to the right, is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School, a two-week course. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingload...
, Ranger Tab
Ranger Tab
The Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
, and Army Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
The Army Staff Identification Badge is a badge of the United States Army worn by personnel who serve at the Office of the Secretary of the Army and the Army Staff at Headquarters, Department of the Army and its agencies. Neither an award nor a decoration, the badge is a distinguishing emblem of...
.
Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with four oak leaf clusters
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with two oak leaf clusters
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with three oak leaf clusters
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
Army Commendation Medal
Combat Infantryman BadgeCombat Infantryman BadgeThe Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
Parachutist BadgeParachutist BadgeThe Parachutist Badge or Parachutist Brevet is a military badge awarded by the Armed Forces of most countries in the world to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such award...
Air Assault BadgeAir Assault BadgeThe Air Assault Badge, pictured to the right, is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School, a two-week course. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingload...
Ranger TabRanger TabThe Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
Army Staff Identification BadgeArmy Staff Identification BadgeThe Army Staff Identification Badge is a badge of the United States Army worn by personnel who serve at the Office of the Secretary of the Army and the Army Staff at Headquarters, Department of the Army and its agencies. Neither an award nor a decoration, the badge is a distinguishing emblem of...
- In 2007, the MacArthur High School JROTC Program renamed their armory after Clark