Presidential Medal of Freedom

Presented by: President Bill Clinton
August 9, 2000

President Bill Clinton awarded General Clark the Presidential Medal of Freedom in August of 2000.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is, along with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest civilian award.

The award is designed to recognize individuals who have made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

General Wesley Clark: International Awards and Honors

General Wesley K. Clark retired as one of the nation's most highly decorated military officers since General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

His leadership experiences have taken him from Vietnam to Latin America and ultimately to the position of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, where he led a unified force to victory in NATO's first major combat action. Clark commanded all NATO forces to success in the important Kosovo conflict, saving 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing without a single Allied casualty.

In addition to his numerous military and civilian honors and awards, Clark received more than 20 major awards from foreign governments, including honorary knighthoods from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands as well as the title of Commander of the Legion of Honor from France.

Scroll through the pages below or click one of the country names below to view details. Click here for a printable list.

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ALBANIA The Skanderbeg Medal ARGENTINA Order of Merit BELGIUM The Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold BULGARIA Order of the Madara Horseman, First Class with Swords CANADA The Meritorious Service Cross CROATIA Grade of Prince Branimir with Ribbon and Star CZECH REPUBLIC Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defense First Class ENGLAND Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire ESTONIA Order of the Cross of the Eagle FRANCE Commander of the Legion of Honor GERMANY Grand Cross of the Order of Merit HUNGARY Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic

ITALY Grand Officer of the Order of Merit LITHUANIA First Class Order of Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas LUXEMBOURG Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy MOROCCO Grand Cordon of the Ouissam Alaoui NETHERLANDS Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau, with Swords POLAND The Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit PORTUGAL Grand Cross of the Medal of Military Merit SLOVAKIA Commemorative Medal of the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic First Class SLOVENIA Commander's Cross, The Silver Order of Freedom SPAIN Grand Medal of Military Merit (White Band) VIETNAM Republic of Vietnam Combat Medal

General Wesley Clark Receiving the Order of Vesthardes Rex from Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga
May 25, 2006
Transcript by Reg NYC

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga: I present to General Wesley K. Clark the highest degree of decoration of the State of Latvia, the Order of Vesthardus Rex and names him Grand Commander of that Order of Vesthardus Rex.

Viestrurs a king of the Middle Ages when Latvia was fighting for its independence and unfortunately, lost at the time, but (laughter) the Order has been renewed with the idea that we never want to see that period repeated. It was a king distinguished by his particular bravery, and this order with Swords is awarded to military persons of the highest rung.

It is the First Degree and it names you Grand Commander of Viestrurs Vesthardus Rex.
(applause)

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you very much. Thank you. It's a great honor. I'm just- I'm really thrilled and honored by this, and I'm so proud of you and what you've been able to do for Latvia. And dreams of peace here seven years ago, they came true. Great story you told about people coming to the streets (inaudible under applause). Thank you.

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga: Thank you

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you very much.

General Wesley Clark: U.S. Military Individual and Unit Decorations

General Wesley K. Clark (U.S.A., Retired), former Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, retired as one of the nation's most highly decorated military officers since General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

His leadership experiences have taken him from Vietnam to Latin America and ultimately to the position of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, where he led a unified force to victory in NATO's first major combat action. Clark commanded all NATO forces to success in the important Kosovo conflict, saving 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing without a single Allied casualty.

Among his many military decorations, Clark is a four-star general who has been awarded the Silver Star, five Defense Distinguished Service Medals, four Legion of Merit Awards, two Army Distinguished Service Medals, two Bronze Star Medals and the Purple Heart.

In addition to numerous civilian honors, General Clark has received more than 20 major international awards including honorary Knighthoods from the British and Dutch governments and was made a Commander of the French Legion of Honor.

Scroll through the pages below or click one of the country names below to view details. Click here for a printable list.

Click for INTERNATIONAL AWARDS AND HONORS or CIVILIAN AWARDS AND HONORS.

Click SEE ALL U.S. MILITARY INDIVIDUAL AND UNIT DECORATIONS at the bottom of each entry to return to this screen.

Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters) Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster) Silver Star Medal Legion of Merit (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters) Bronze Star The Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster) Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster) Kosovo Campaign Medal Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

National Defense Service Medal (with Service Star) Army Staff Identification Badge Viet Nam Service Medal (with 3 Service Stars) Combat Infantry Badge Parachutist Badge (Airborne) Ranger Tab The Army Service Ribbon

ALBANIA: The Skanderbeg Medal

In April, 2000, General Clark received the Skanderbeg Medal, Albania’s highest medal, in appreciation of the efforts the allied forces to create peace in the Balkans.

The medal was presented by Albania’s President, Rexhep Meidani.

The President’s presentation honored General Clark for playing a key role in the:

General Clark responded, “I accept this award in the name of all the NATO militaries to assure the community that Milosevic will not be in Kosovo any more. We will continue to be in Kosovo to protect all of its inhabitants.”

ARGENTINA: Order of May in Military Merit in the Degree of Great Cross

While serving in Panama as Commander in Chief of US Southern Command, General Clark applauded the role of Argentine military contingents in international peace-keeping missions.

Argentina was a strong ally in the US effort to combat drug trafficking and terrorism through the provision of logistical support and control of air space in the continent.

In September of 1997, by order of a national decree, the government of Carlos Menem - President of Argentina, approved the Act which awarded the medal of Orden de Mayo al Mérito Militar en el Grado de Gran Cruz (The Order Of May in Military Merit in the Degree of Great Cross) to General Clark.

BELGIUM: The Grand Cordon of the Order of Léopold

General Clark was awarded the Order of Léopold, which is the highest military order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Léopold I. The decoration was established in 1832 and is awarded for extreme bravery in combat or for meritorious service resulting in immense benefit to the Belgian nation.

During World War II, the Order of Léopold was bestowed to several foreign military officers who had helped liberate Belgium from German forces. Other famous recipients include Generals George S. Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The Order of Léopold is issued in five classes: Grand Cordon, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight.

Source:

BULGARIA: Order of the Madara Horseman, First Class with Swords

In March of 2000, Bulgarian President Peter Stoyanov presented the Madarski Konnik Medal, First Class with Swords (Order of the Madara Horseman) to General Clark.

The medal is the most prestigious award bestowed upon foreign nationals who, in developing amicable relations with Bulgaria, have contributed to establishing scientific, educational, economical. or cultural ties to the country.

The presidential decree cited General Clark for his: