Robert T. Clark
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| Robert T. Clark | |
|---|---|
 LTG Robert T. Clark |
|
| Years of service | 1970-present |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | 101st Airborne Division 5th Army |
| Battles/wars | Desert Storm |
| Awards | Combat Infantryman Badge Legion of Merit Purple Heart |
Lieutenant General Robert T. Clark was assigned as the Commanding General, U.S. Fifth Army on December 5, 2003. 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. General Clark later earned a Master of Science Degree in Political Science from Auburn University. 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, General Clark 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.
General 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. General Clark then became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Combat Developments, U.S. 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. Under General Clark's command PFC Barry Winchell was murdered by two Fort Campbell soldiers on suspicion of Winchell's homosexuality. After his tour at Fort Campbell, General Clark was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General, Fifth United States Army. While there his promotion to the Lieutenant General was delayed pending two Executive Sessions by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. These sessions were prompted by concerns that General Clark allowed an anti-gay climate to fester on his base following Winchell's murder. The official Defense Department reports and Senate Armed Services Committee exonerated Clark of wrongdoing. General Clark received his promotion in November of 2003.
General Clark's decorations and badges include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit 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.
