A local man, who has served faithfully in the U.S. Army for decades, has moved up in rank to a prominent position.
Jeffrey Clark — born and raised in La Grange — was promoted from colonel to brigadier general last month during a ceremony at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany.
Clark has spent 29 years in the Army and was currently serving as the commander of the Europe Regional Medical Command, which operates 17 military treatment facilities in Germany, Italy and Belgium. He had been nominated for the position in 2012, but needed confirmation from the U.S. Senate.
Shane Sharp, Public Affairs Officer for the Europe Regional Medical Command, worked with Clark from May 2012 to July 2013. Sharp said Clark was a caring person and respected by the people who followed him.
“Brigadier General Clark is a very people-oriented person,” Sharp said. “He cares for those he works with and commands. He always talks about three things with us; accomplish the mission, taking care of each other and taking care of our families. That was the center of his command philosophy, which is the way things are set up under him.”
Clark will now transfer to Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. to take command of the hospital in September. Walter Reed is recognized as one of the most prominent military hospitals across the nation and has served a number of patients, including presidents.
Clark has earned bachelor degrees at Davidson, the ECU School of Medicine and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Army War College. He also has master’s degrees at the University of Washington in public health and Army War College in strategic studies.
The newly appointed brigadier general has served stints in Fort Bragg, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Korea and Kosovo before heading to Germany.
With his wife of 30 years, Sue, and son, Warren, by his side, Clark accepted the new position after 14 months in Germany. The move to Maryland will also place him closer to his daughter, Anna, who currently serves with the Wounded Warrior Project in Washington D.C. His other son, John, recently graduated from Austin College.
Sharp said the ceremony itself was very touching.
“It was an emotional promotion,” he said. “It was the culmination of his career work, but by no means is he slowing down. He’s moving on to Walter Reed, which is the flagship for military medicine. He was very honored as a soldier to put on the rank of brigadier general and assume responsibilities.”
As Clark makes the transition back to the states for his new assignment, Sharp said that he has no worries about his former commander handling the work.
“The army medicine motto is ‘serving to heal, honor to serve,’” Sharp said. “Clark epitomizes that creed and takes it very seriously.”
Clark is currently making his final preparations to leave Germany for Maryland and was unavailable for comment for this report.
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 or Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
