Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

Robert T. Clark is a retired

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

officer. His last assignment was as the Commanding General,

Fifth United States Army Fifth is the ordinal form of the number five. Fifth or The Fifth may refer to: * Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "pleading the Fifth" * Fifth Avenue * Fifth column, a political term * Fifth disease, a cont ...

(later United States Army North) which he commanded from December 5, 2003, to December 2006.

Education

Clark is a graduate of Douglas MacArthur High School,

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

, and a 1970 Distinguished Military Graduate of

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public university, public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship instit ...

, where he was commissioned as an army second lieutenant 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 Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) is a public university in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Governed by the Auburn University Board of Trustees as a member of the Auburn University system, it was established by an act of the Alabama Le ...

. Clark's 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.

Military career

After a brief initial assignment at

Fort Hood Fort Cavazos is a United States Army post located near Killeen, Texas. The post is currently named after Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, a native Texan and the US Army’s first Hispanic four-star general. The post is located halfway between Austi ...

, Clark served in

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

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 may refer to: * Fort Lewis (Colorado), a former United States Army post (1878–1891) in the U.S. State of Colorado ** Fort Lewis College, a college in the Durango, Colorado, United States ** Fort Lewis Skyhawks, athletic teams of Fort L ...

, 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 Schofield Barracks is a United States Army installation and census-designated place (CDP) located in Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Hawaii. Schofield Barracks lies adjacent to the town of Wahiawā, separated ...

, 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) The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault operations. The 101st is designed to plan, coordinate, and execute brigade-sized air assaul ...

, where he commanded the 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry, and later commanded the 3d Brigade during Operations

Desert Shield , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...

and

Desert Storm , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...

. 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 (named Fort Moore from 2023–2025) is a United States Army post in the Columbus, Georgia area. Located on Georgia's border with Alabama, Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve compone ...

as the Assistant Commandant of the

Infantry School A School of Infantry provides training in weapons and infantry tactics to infantrymen of a nation's military forces. Schools of infantry include: Australia *Australian Army – School of Infantry, Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton, NSW. Franc ...

and the Deputy Commanding General. He then became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Combat Developments,

United States Army Training and Doctrine Command The United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is a major command of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is charged with overseeing training of Army forces and the development of operational doctrine ...

Fort Monroe Fort Monroe is a former military installation in Hampton, Virginia, at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula, United States. It is currently managed by partnership between the Fort Monroe Authority for the Commonwealth o ...

. 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, Private First Class

Barry Winchell On July 6, 1999, Barry Winchell, a 21-year-old infantry soldier in the United States Army, was murdered while he slept outside of his barracks by fellow soldier Calvin Glover for dating a transgender woman, Calpernia Addams, after a physical al ...

was murdered by two Fort Campbell soldiers on suspicion of Winchell's homosexuality. Because of this and other incidents at Fort Campbell, Clark's promotion to lieutenant general was opposed by groups such as the

National Organization for Women The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It ...

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, 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.San Antonio's Movers and Shakers
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Personal life

Clark is married and has a daughter and a son.

Awards and decorations

Clark's decorations and badges include the

Army Distinguished Service Medal The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. ...

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

with four Oak Leaf Clusters,

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious a ...

with V Device and two Oak Leaf Clusters,

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: Singapore *Pingat Jasa Gemilang, or Meritorious Services Me ...

with three Oak Leaf Clusters,

Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establi ...

Army Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issu ...

Combat Infantryman Badge The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces (United States Army), Special Forces soldiers in the rank of Colonel (United States), colonel and below, wh ...

, Parachutist Badge,

Air Assault Badge The Air Assault Badge, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 18 January 1978, last accessed 16 October 2020 is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the United States Army Air Assault School, Air Assault School. The course includes ...

, Ranger Tab, and

Army Staff Identification Badge The Army Staff Identification Badge is an identification badge awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Army to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted soldiers assigned to authorized positions at Headquarters, Department of the Army.

. *

Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation, state or country. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in act ...

with four Oak Leaf Clusters * Bronze Star Medal ribbon

Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

with two Oak Leaf Clusters * Purple Heart ribbon

with three Oak Leaf Clusters * Air Medal ribbon

Parachutist Badge * AirAssault

Ranger Tab * United States Army Staff Identification Badge

*In 2007, the MacArthur High School JROTC Program renamed their armory after Clark.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Robert T. Year of birth missing (living people) Living people United States Army personnel of the Gulf War United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War United States Army generals Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Legion of Merit Douglas MacArthur High School (San Antonio) alumni Texas Tech University alumni Auburn University at Montgomery alumni Recipients of the Air Medal