COLUMBIA, S.C. - Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Robert L. Clark has been selected by SCDVA's Internal Selection Committee as the newest Veteran of the Quarter (January - March 2024).
CSM Robert L. Clark is a native of South Carolina. He entered the Army and graduated from One Station Unit Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma March 1986 as an Artillery Crewman and retired in April 2018 with over 32 years of active-duty service in the US Army. His previous assignments while on active duty include 1st Battalion 10th Field Artillery and 5th Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division Schweinfurt, Germany; 3rd Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia; 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment and Reception Battalion at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division (SBCT) at Fort Lewis, Washington; 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team in Baumholder, Germany; Fires Test Directorate at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; 2nd Battalion, 307th Field Artillery Regiment (Training Support) at Camp Atterbury, Indiana; 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, 1AD DIVARTY, Fort Bliss, Texas and 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, ARCENT at Shaw AFB, SC.
CSM Clark is a graduate of the Defense Support of Civil Authority Course (DCSA), Command Sergeant Major Development Course, and all the Non-Commission Officers Education System courses, to include the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, First Sergeant Course, Pre-Command Course, Drill Sergeant School, Combat Lifesaver Course, Unit Movement Officer Course, Field Sanitation Course, and Small Arms Maintenance Course along with many more. CSM Clark holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Columbia Junior College, an Associate Degree in Administration Management from Excelsior College, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University.
CSM Clark’s military awards and decorations include the Drill Sergeant Badge, Combat Action Badge, Driver Badge Track, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with sliver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal ten award, and various deployment and campaign ribbons. CSM Clark is also a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, recipient of the Ancient Order and the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, Noble Patron of Armor, and the Order of Saint Maurice. For over 32 years, in combat and peacetime, CSM Clark excelled as a leader and demonstrated unwavering commitment to Soldiers, Family members and mission accomplishment.
CSM (R) Robert L. Clark has been married to the former Veronica Edwards of Charleston, South Carolina for over 36 years. They have two children, Robert Jr. (Sonny) and Veronne (Babygirl). Clark has achieved remarkable accomplishments during his tenure as Commander, demonstrating unwavering commitment to the values and mission of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). CSM Clark's dedication to serving Veterans extended beyond his role as Chapter 20 Commander, as evidenced by his various additional volunteer and appointed positions he held within the South Carolina Department of Disabled Americans Veterans organization:
- DAV Department assistant State Convention Chairman (2022-2024)
- DAV Dorn VA Hospital Patient Transportation Specialist (2019-2024)
- DAV Department Chief of Staff (2021-2023)
- National Deputy Chief of Staff (2021-2023)
- DAV Department State Convention Chairman (2020-2022)
- DAV District II Aide to Committeemen (2019-2020)
His commitment to Veterans' causes is exemplified by the positions he held and the roles he undertook in other organizations:
- Columbia Branch NAACP Armed Forces & Veteran Affairs Committee Chairman
- Palmetto Pathfinder for the South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs
- South Carolina Democratic Party Veterans Council
- Dorn VA Hospital Certified Volunteer
- Lifetime member of the VFW.
His leadership has not only strengthened the 92nd Buffalo Chapter 20 but also enriched the lives of its members and the community. CSM Clark’s desire and passion to empower Veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity motivated and inspired the 92nd Buffalo Chapter 20 to enhance the lives of countless Veterans and their families, in consistent with the mission of the South Carolina Department of Disabled American Veterans, “Keeping Our Promise to American’s Veterans”.