Wesley Clark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wesley Clark
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Official portrait, c. 1997–2000
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| Birth name | Wesley J. Kanne |
| Born | 23 December 1944 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1966–2000 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands held | Supreme Allied Commander Europe United States European Command United States Southern Command |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | See all |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy (BS) Magdalen College, Oxford (BA) U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (MMAS) |
| Spouse(s) |
Gertrude Kingston
(m. 1967) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | http://wesleykclark.com/ |
Wesley Kanne Clark, born on December 23, 1944, is a retired officer from the United States Army. He was the top student in his class at West Point in 1966. He then received a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in England, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Later, he earned a master's degree in military science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Clark led an infantry company during the Vietnam War. He was shot four times and received a Silver Star for his bravery in battle. From 1997 to 2000, he served as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) for NATO. In this role, he commanded Operation Allied Force during the Kosovo War. He spent 34 years in the U.S. Army, earning many military awards. He also received several honorary knighthoods and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 2003, Clark decided to run for president in the 2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries. He won only the primary election in Oklahoma. He then left the race in February 2004 and supported John Kerry, who became the Democratic candidate. After the 2004 elections, Clark started a group called "WesPAC" to help other Democratic candidates. He supported Hillary Clinton in 2007 for the 2008 presidential race. When Clinton stopped her campaign, Clark then supported Barack Obama.
Today, Clark runs his own consulting company, Wesley K. Clark and Associates. He also leads Enverra, an investment bank. He works with many companies on topics like energy, security, and money. Clark has worked in North America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.
Contents
Growing Up and School
Clark's father's family was Jewish. His grandparents came to the United States from Belarus (part of the Russian Empire then). They left because Jewish people faced violence and unfair treatment. Clark's father, Benjamin Jacob Kanne, was a lawyer and served in the United States Navy Reserve during World War I. He was involved in local politics in Chicago. Clark's mother was of English background and was a Methodist.
Wesley J. Kanne was born in Chicago on December 23, 1944. His father died when Wesley was four years old. His mother then moved the family to Little Rock, Arkansas, to be closer to her family and to save money. In Little Rock, his mother married Victor Clark. Victor raised Wesley as his own son and officially adopted him when Wesley turned 16. Wesley's name was changed to Wesley Kanne Clark. His mother did not tell him about his Jewish background to protect him from anti-Jewish groups like the Ku Klux Klan in the southern U.S. Even though his mother was Methodist, Clark chose to attend a Baptist church in Little Rock.
He went to Hall High School and earned a National Merit Scholarship. He helped his swim team win the state championship. Clark often tells a story about how he decided to go to West Point. He met a cadet with glasses who told him that you didn't need perfect eyesight to attend West Point, which Clark had thought. Clark applied and was accepted on April 24, 1962.
Military Career Highlights
Clark's military journey began on July 2, 1962, when he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He was greatly influenced by General Douglas MacArthur's famous "Duty, honor, country" speech.
Clark was a top student at West Point, often sitting in the front row. He was also active in debate. He consistently ranked among the top 5% of his class and graduated as the best student (valedictorian). As valedictorian, he could choose his Army specialty, and he picked armor. He met Gertrude Kingston, who later became his wife, at a dance for cadets.
In December 1965, Clark learned he had received a Rhodes Scholarship. He spent a summer at the United States Army Airborne School. He earned his master's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Magdalen College, Oxford in August 1968. While at Oxford, a Jewish cousin told him about his Jewish heritage. After graduation, he went through more military training and was promoted to captain. He then commanded a company at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Serving in the Vietnam War
Clark went to Vietnam in July 1969 during the Vietnam War. He first worked as a staff officer, helping with planning, and received the Bronze Star. In January 1970, he took command of a company. Just one month later, in February, he was shot four times by a Viet Cong soldier. Even while wounded, Clark shouted orders to his men, who fought back and defeated the enemy. He was injured in his right shoulder, hand, hip, and leg. He was sent to a hospital to recover and received the Silver Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge for his brave actions.
While in Vietnam, Clark became Catholic, his wife Gertrude's religion. After recovering, he commanded a company of wounded soldiers at Fort Knox. This experience made him decide to stay in the military beyond his initial eight-year commitment. He continued his training and wrote an article that won an award. His next job was in Washington, D.C., working on the "Modern Volunteer Army" program. From 1971 to 1974, he taught at West Point.
Clark graduated with high honors from the Command and General Staff College (CGSC), earning a master's degree in military science. His ideas focused on using force quickly to gain an advantage, which later influenced U.S. military policy. He was promoted to major after graduation.
After Vietnam: Rising Through the Ranks
In 1975, Clark became a White House Fellow, working as a special assistant in the Office of Management and Budget. He was one of only 14 people chosen from over 2,300 applicants. He also helped with the movement that led to the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
From 1976 to 1978, Clark served in Germany with the 1st Armored Division. His commanders praised his exceptional talent. He received the Meritorious Service Medal for his work. His skills were noticed by General Alexander Haig, who personally selected Clark to be a special assistant on his staff from 1978 to 1979. For his work, Clark was promoted to lieutenant colonel and received the Legion of Merit.
After Europe, he moved to Fort Carson, Colorado, where he commanded a battalion from 1980 to 1982. He was chosen as the top officer in his group to become a full colonel. He attended the National War College and was promoted to full colonel in October 1983.
From 1983 to 1984, Clark worked in Washington, D.C., for the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He earned another Legion of Merit. He then commanded the Operations Group at the Fort Irwin Military Reservation from 1984 to 1986, earning more awards. In 1986, he commanded the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson. One of his commanders called him the "most brilliant and gifted officer" he had ever known. On November 1, 1989, Clark was promoted to brigadier general.
Clark then commanded the National Training Center (NTC) from 1989 to 1991. During the Gulf War, many National Guard units trained under his command. Generals in Iraq and Kuwait said Clark's training helped their forces succeed. He received another Legion of Merit. He then worked at United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), helping the Army prepare for war and develop new strategies after the Cold War. He pushed for using technology to create a "digital network" for military command. He was promoted to major general in October 1992.
Leading the 1st Cavalry Division
Clark's next command was the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. During his time there, forces from Fort Hood were sent three times to help keep peace in Kuwait.
His performance reports called him "one of the Army's best and brightest." Clark received the Distinguished Service Medal for his work at Fort Hood. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1994. His next role was Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J5) for the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1994 to 1996. In this job, he helped create U.S. military policy around the world. He worked with Richard Holbrooke on the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War. He also helped with nuclear talks in Korea, planning to restore democracy in Haiti, and moving the United States Southern Command headquarters.
Leading in Europe
Clark was appointed to lead the United States European Command in the summer of 1997 by President Clinton. This position also made him the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), giving him overall command of NATO military forces in Europe. Clark believed that NATO's role had changed after the Cold War from protecting Europe from the Soviet Union to working for general stability in the region.
The Kosovo War
The biggest event during Clark's time as SACEUR was NATO's conflict with Yugoslavia in the Kosovo War. In September 1998, the United Nations Security Council called for an end to fighting in Kosovo. Diplomatic efforts to find peace failed. The U.S. then tried to make Yugoslavia allow Kosovo to separate through the Rambouillet Agreement, but Yugoslavia refused. Clark tried to convince Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milošević that NATO would bomb if he did not agree.
On March 24, 1999, President Clinton ordered Clark to start bombings, called Operation Allied Force. This was to enforce the UN resolution after Yugoslavia's refusal. Some critics noted that the UN resolution did not directly allow military action. Clark felt he was not fully included in discussions with U.S. leaders. This led to some tension.
The bombing campaign faced criticism when NATO bombed the Radio Television of Serbia headquarters on April 23, 1999. This attack killed 16 civilian employees. NATO said the station was used for propaganda by Milošević. Another problem happened on May 7, 1999, when NATO accidentally bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Three Chinese journalists were killed. The mistake happened because of incorrect address information used for targeting. Defense Secretary William Cohen and CIA Director George Tenet took responsibility for the error.
The bombing campaign ended on June 10, 1999, after Milošević agreed to international conditions and Yugoslav forces began to leave Kosovo. NATO did not suffer any combat deaths, though two helicopter crew members died in an accident. One F-117A stealth jet was shot down. Estimates for civilian deaths from the bombings ranged from about 488 to over 2,000.
Milošević's time as president ended in 2000 due to protests and claims of unfair elections. He resigned on October 7. He was later arrested and sent to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to face charges of war crimes. Clark was called to testify in Milošević's trial in December 2003.
The Incident at Pristina Airport
One of Clark's most debated decisions was about Pristina International Airport right after the Kosovo War. Russian forces arrived at the airport on June 12, 1999, expecting to help police that area. Clark, however, had planned for NATO's Kosovo Force to control the airport. Clark called the NATO Secretary General, who told him to secure the airport.
However, the British commander of the Kosovo Force, General Mike Jackson, refused to use military force to block the Russians. He famously said, "I'm not going to start the Third World War for you." Jackson believed it was too risky to confront the Russians directly. Instead, troops surrounded the airfield. The stand-off lasted two weeks. Eventually, an agreement was reached for Russian forces to join peacekeeping duties, but not under NATO command.
Some U.S. military leaders criticized Jackson's refusal. However, British military leaders supported Jackson. Clark was later asked to leave his position two months earlier than expected.
Retirement from the Military
In July 1999, Clark was told he would leave his command in April 2000, less than three years after he started. Clark was surprised because SACEURs usually served at least three years. The official reason given was to make room for another general who needed a new command. Clark felt this explanation was not entirely true. He retired from the military on May 2, 2000.
Rumors suggested Clark was forced out because of disagreements with some officials in Washington, D.C. However, Clark called it a "routine personnel action." The Department of Defense said it was a "general rotation of American senior ranks." But a NATO ambassador told a newspaper that Clark's dismissal seemed "political." General Hugh Shelton, who later supported a rival presidential campaign, said Clark left early due to "integrity and character issues," but he never explained what those issues were.
Life After the Military
After retiring, Clark began giving public speeches. He sought advice from former government officials about what to do next. He moved back to Little Rock, Arkansas, and took a job with an investment firm. He also joined the boards of several defense-related companies. In March 2003, he started his own company, Wesley K. Clark & Associates. Clark has written two books, Waging Modern War and Winning Modern Wars. He also wrote introductions for military biographies and articles.
Clark is also a member of the Atlantic Council's board of directors.
Running for President in 2004
Clark has said he truly understood his political views after his military retirement and the 2000 presidential election. He realized he supported the idea of the U.S. getting involved in other countries' problems, which was different from the new Bush administration's approach. He supported the War in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks, but he did not support the Iraq War.
A "Draft Clark" campaign started online in April 2003, encouraging him to run for president. This group gathered many volunteers and pledges of money for his campaign. Another website, DraftClark2004.com, was the first group to officially register to persuade Clark to run.
Clark announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential primary elections from Little Rock on September 17, 2003. He joined the race months after other candidates. He thanked the "Draft Clark" movement for making his run possible. His campaign raised a lot of money quickly.
Some people questioned Clark's loyalty to the Democratic Party since he had been an independent voter for most of his military career. Clark said he was joking when he once mentioned he might have been a Republican if he had received a phone call from a Republican strategist. He had also given a speech in 2001 praising President George W. Bush and his team.
Clark, new to politics, did not have detailed policy papers ready. However, volunteers helped him explain his views on various issues. He called for ending some of the recent tax cuts for wealthy people. He suggested improving the current healthcare system to help those without insurance. He also supported environmental protection and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Clark proposed strengthening American relations with other countries and investing in homeland security.
Clark's inexperience in quick "soundbite" answers sometimes caused problems. For example, the day after he announced his campaign, he was asked if he would have voted for the Iraq War Resolution. His answer was unclear at first, leading to headlines that said he would have voted for the war, even though he opposed it. He later clarified his position, stating, "I would have never voted for war. The war was an unnecessary war, it was an elective war, and it's been a huge strategic mistake for this country."
Another incident happened when he talked about space exploration. He said he believed "mankind can do" things like travel faster than the speed of light, which led to humorous headlines in the media.
Polls in late 2003 showed Clark doing well, even leading some Democratic candidates. Clark decided not to participate in the Iowa caucuses to focus on later primary elections. This turned out to be a mistake, as other candidates gained momentum there. Clark did well in some later primaries, winning in Oklahoma and tying for third in New Hampshire. However, he decided to withdraw from the race on February 11, 2004. He then supported John Kerry for president. Clark believed that not competing in Iowa was one of his campaign's biggest mistakes.
After the 2004 Campaign
Clark continued to support John Kerry throughout the 2004 presidential campaign. He spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In April 2004, he started a political action committee called WesPAC. In June 2005, Fox News Channel hired General Clark as a military and foreign affairs analyst. He also became a senior fellow at the Burkle Center for International Relations at UCLA.
Clark actively campaigned during the 2006 midterm elections, supporting many Democratic candidates. His PAC helped 42 Democrats win their elections. He was a popular speaker for the Democratic Party on security issues.
In September 2007, Clark published his memoir, A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country. In the book, he claimed that after 9/11, a "senior general" told him about a secret plan to change governments in seven countries over five years. He had mentioned this claim publicly before. The book also described a conversation with Paul Wolfowitz in 1991, where Wolfowitz suggested the U.S. could use its military freely after the Cold War to deal with certain regimes.
Clark serves on the Advisory Boards of the Global Panel Foundation and the National Security Network. He is also the chairman of Enverra.
Possible 2008 Presidential Campaign
Clark was considered a possible candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. However, he chose to support Hillary Clinton instead. He campaigned for her in several states. There were reports that Clinton might have chosen Clark as her running mate if she had won the nomination. After Barack Obama secured the Democratic nomination, Clark supported him. Clark was also considered as a possible vice-presidential running mate for Obama, but Obama eventually chose Joe Biden.
In his 2003 book Winning Modern Wars, Clark described a conversation he had in the Pentagon after 9/11. A military officer told him about a plan to attack seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and finally Iran. Clark believes the 2003 invasion of Iraq was "a huge mistake."
Reality Television
Clark hosted Stars Earn Stripes, a reality TV show on NBC in 2012. The show featured celebrities competing in challenges based on U.S. military exercises.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Wesley Clark has received many honors, awards, and knighthoods during his military and civilian career. Some of his notable military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star.
Internationally, Clark has received many civilian honors, such as the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany. He also received military honors like the Grand Cross of the Medal of Military Merit from Portugal and several knighthoods. As a civilian, he received the Golden Plate Award from the Academy of Achievement in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000.
The people of Gjakova, Kosovo, named a street after him because of his help to their city and country. The city of Madison also has a boulevard named after Clark. A new street called "General Clark Court" has been approved for construction in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He is also a Fellow at the Burkle Center for International Relations at UCLA. In 2000, he was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. In 2013, General Clark received the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, circa 1997–2000
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Wesley Clark's signature
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Clark's acceptance letter from West Point
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Clark's Silver Star citation
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Portrait of Brigadier General Clark as a commander at Fort Irwin
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Clark assumed command of USSOUTHCOM in June 1996
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Clark briefs U.S. aircraft mechanics from the 510th and 555th Fighter Squadrons at Aviano Air Base, Italy in May 1999
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U.S. Marines at the United States consulate-general in Hong Kong lower the American flag out of respect for the 1999 Chinese embassy bombing victims
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Clark (center) with his wife Gertrude (right) in Seattle, Washington, on August 19, 2004.
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A woman holds a Clark sign with one of his 2004 slogans at a Ned Lamont rally Clark attended in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Wesley Clark para niños
