Lieutenant Colonel Clark to speak at Memorial Day service
Lieutenant Colonel Russell A. Clark is the guest speaker at the Memorial Day service in Dunkirk that begins at 10 a.m. in Memorial Park.
He was born and raised in New York. He began his career in the Army when he enlisted in November of 1982 into the 221st Engineer Group in Buffalo as a power generator wheel vehicle mechanic. He was later recruited as part of the Warrior 2000 program into the Empire State Military Academy where he graduated Officer Candidate School in June of 1989.
His past assignments have taken he and his family across the country and around the world during both peace and war from Platoon Leader to Battalion Commander. As a company grade officer he served with the 27th Brigade standing up and commanding the 827th Engineer Company out of Buffalo. In January 2010, he commanded the HHC 42nd ID Special Troops Battalion out of Troy. In January 2013, he was assigned as the Brigade Executive Officer for the 206th Digital Liaison Team out of Fort Jackson South Carolina. He is now serving as the Senior Army Instructor for the Dunkirk High School Junior Officer Training Course.
He deployed both on Active and State Active duty. In September 2001, he served at ground zero as the battle Captain for the 152nd Engineer Battalion. In December 2003, he commanded a Surge Force in support of continued home land security operations in the NY City Metropolitan area. In June of 2004, he deployed to Iraq as the 42nd IN Division Force Protection Officer. In June 2006, he served as the Detachment West Commander on the Post Mobilization Training and Evaluation Team. In September of 2008 he was assigned the Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force Empire Shield at Fort Hamilton. In January of 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan Commanding a security Force Assistance Advisory Team.
His awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (6th Award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (w/M Device and 20yr silver Hourglass), NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (5th Award)
Lieutenant Colonel Clark and his wife Dana live in Angola, New York and have one child together, Amelia who recently turned two. He has four other children from a previous marriage his oldest daughter Jessica currently serves in the United States Airforce and his daughter Nikole currently serves with the New York Army National Guard.
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