Command Sergeant (Ret.) David L. Clark (In Memoriam)
U.S. Army Special Forces Regiment.
Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment.
Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) David L. Clark is a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment. He was born Jan. 12, 1930, in Norman Park, Ga. Command Sergeant Major Clark enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 and retired in 1984 with 35 years of honorable active service.
Command Sergeant Major Clark served in a variety of assignments and units around the world, including the 11th Airborne Division, and two tours in the Airborne School (Instructor), First Sergeant, Long Range Patrol Company; ODA Team Sergeant, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne); ODA Team Sergeant, and ODB Sergeant Major, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne); Sergeant Major, John F, Kennedy Institute for Military Assistance Specialized Techniques Training Department, with responsibility for training basic military free fall, military free-fall jumpmaster, static-line jumpmaster, and Special Forces underwater operations. Sergeant Major, 7th Special Forces Group; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group. Commandant, 18th Airborne Corps Noncommissioned officer Academy, Command Sergeant Major, John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance; Command Sergeant Major, Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force; and (First) Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Central Command.
Command Sergeant Major Clark’s military education includes Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course, Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Combat Diver Qualification Course, Special Forces Operations and Intelligence Course.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist and Master Parachutist Badge, HALO and HALO Jumpmaster Badge, Combat Diver Badge, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, parachutist badges from 13 foreign countries and the Special Operations Department of the Army Civilian Charles E. Pimble Lifetime Achievement Award.
Command Sergeant Major Clark served as the fifth Honorary Sergeant Major of the 1st Special Forces Regiment and served as the Plans and Capabilities Specialist of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Including his active duty and work at the Special Warfare Center and School, Command Sergeant Major Clark has served over 65 years in combined federal service primarily in Special Operations.