Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)

Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM) is a United States military award presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States. The decoration is awarded only at the highest levels of the military while assigned to a joint activity. The DDSM may also be awarded to other senior officers whose direct and individual contributions to national security or defense are recognized as being so exceptional in scope and value as to be equivalent to contributions normally associated with positions encompassing broader responsibilities. General Clark received this award on five separate occasions.

It is the United States's highest peacetime defense award.

The five occasions on which General Clark was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are:

for Bosnia service,
for assignment with Joint Staff,
for service at U.S. Southern Command,
for service as Commander of the Kosovo conflict, and
for service as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.

General Clark led the military negotiations in 1995 that led to the Bosnian Peace Accords at Dayton, Ohio, leading to peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In 1995, General Clark traveled to the Balkans as the military negotiator with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke in a US effort to end the war in Bosnia, the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II.

In his assignment as the Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, J5, the Joint Staff from April 1994 to June 1996, General Clark was the staff officer responsible for world-wide politico-military affairs and U.S. military strategic planning.

It was there that General Clark insisted that the Pentagon develop an exit strategy for the 1994 invasion of Haiti. It was an innovative approach, which brought together the UN and the US government, non-military elements.

From June 1996 to July 1997, General Clark served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Southern Command, Panama, where he commanded all U.S. forces and was responsible for the direction of most U.S. military activities and interests in Latin America and the Caribbean.

During his tenure, General Clark suggested the creation of a working group charged with establishing common criteria for measuring progress in respect for human rights by the military and security forces.

As a result of General Clark’s challenge, the Human Rights Initiative was born. In June 1997, USSOUTHCOM sponsored a follow-up seminar comprised of representatives of several international and regional human rights organizations and a number of Latin American military officials with operational responsibility for human rights training.

On Sept. 24, 1999, Defense Secretary Cohen awarded Clark with his fifth award of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. The award citation credited Clark with leading EUCOM through the entire spectrum of military operations from war fighting to peacekeeping to humanitarian relief.

The accompanying citation stated:

"...General Clark's leadership and personal demeanor created an atmosphere of cooperation within the North Atlantic Treaty organization Alliance that ensured accomplishment of the largest military and humanitarian operation in Europe since World War II.

General Clark's diplomatic, political and military acumen, as well as his personal command presence, was singularly responsible for strengthening the bond of the North Atlantic Treaty organization Alliance as it conducted its first-ever offensive operations.

He was the primary warfighting advisor to the Secretary General and the United States Command Authority. As such he provided sound, vital counsel to the Secretary General, the National Command Authority and to his subordinate warfighting commanders.

General Clark's decisive leadership and sound policy decisions were clearly manifested in Yugoslavia's acceptance of the brokered peace initiative, which culminated in the complete withdrawal of Yugoslavian armed forces from Kosovo."

About the Defense Distinguished Service Medal

It is the United States's highest peacetime defense award. Normally, such responsibilities deserving of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal are held by the most senior officers such as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chiefs and Vice Chiefs of the Services, and Commanders and Deputy Commanders of the Unified Commands whose duties bring them into direct contact with the Secretary of Defense and other senior officials.

An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the second and subsequent awards of the decoration.

The United States military only issues bronze and silver oak leaf clusters. The higher ranking oak leaf clusters are issued "in lieu" of a lesser number, allowing a large number of award annotations to fit on a single ribbon. For instance, five bronze oak leaf clusters would be denoted by one silver.

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is third in the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations, and is worn after the Distinguished Service Cross and before the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_leaf_clusters
http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/Sep1999/990924-D-9880W-015.html

http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/news00/uns00150.htm
http://www.cecadh.or.cr/en/derechos_humanos.php
http://www.clark04.com/records/
http://www.nato.int/cv/saceur/clark.htm
http://www.nato.int/cv/saceur/clark.htm
http://www.clark04.com/about/
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/FAQ-AwdPrec.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Distinguished_Service_Medal
photo source: http://www.dialogo-americas.com/octdec96/frames/artical2.htm)