Bush Re-Nominates Controversial Major General to High Post
Serious Concerns about Harassment/ Murder at Fort Campbell
Move Opposed by Military Watchdog & Civil Liberties Groups
Compiled by GayToday
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
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Washington, DC - George W. Bush has re-nominated Major General Robert T. Clark, a former commanding general of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. This choice would make him a Lieutenant General, the Army's second highest ranking. His re-nomination is currently before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
During the last session of Congress, the Committee did not act on the nomination due to serious concerns about Major General Clark's leadership before and after the murder of PFC Barry Winchell at Fort Campbell. A coalition of military watchdog and civil liberties organizations opposed the nomination last session. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) announced today that the coalition will again oppose his nomination.
C. Dixon Osburn, Executive Director of SLDN, said: "The issue is leadership. At any time, but especially in time of war, America needs strong leaders." |
 Major General Robert T. Clark: Up for promotion after gay murder happened on his watch |
In 1999, PFC Winchell was murdered by fellow soldiers at Fort Campbell. Targeted because he was believed to be gay, PFC Winchell endured constant anti-gay harassment in the months leading up to his murder. The soldier reported the harassment to Major General Clark's Inspector General, who failed to act, sending him back to a chain of command that had harassed him.
A Department of Army Inspector General report found that Clark had failed to order required training on Don't Ask, Don't Tell or on how to address anti-gay harassment.
In a January 16th letter to Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator John Warner (R-VA) and Ranking Member Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), SLDN Executive Director C. Dixon Osburn noted that the Army IG report shows other troubling facts about Clark's tenure at the base, including command-wide low morale; inadequate delivery of health care to soldiers and their families; and wide-spread, leader-condoned underage drinking in the barracks.
 PFC. Barry Winchell was murdered in what was classified as a hate crime |
Clark has cited the Army IG report in his defense, arguing it concluded there was no pervasive anti-gay climate under his command. The Army IG did not, however, evaluate anti-gay harassment at Fort Campbell. This is clearly evidenced by the IG's 96-question survey which failed to ask a single question regarding anti-gay harassment.
The Armed Services Committee first received Major General Clark's nomination in October 2002. The Committee required MG Clark to defend his nomination in a closed-door hearing. Despite requests, however, neither the parents of PFC Winchell, nor other individuals with information pertaining to Clark's tenure at Fort Campbell, were allowed to present evidence to the Committee. SLDN has again urged the Committee to hold an open hearing.
"We again urge that you reject the nomination of Major General Clark to command of the Fifth United States Army," Osburn said in his letter to Senator Warner and Senator Levin. "At the very least, the Committee should hold public hearings to more fully address the substantial questions . . . pertaining to Major General Clark's leadership at Fort Campbell."
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Clark's nomination is also opposed by People for the American Way, the National Organization for Women, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, the Human Rights Campaign and Michigan's Triangle Foundation.
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