A Marine with roots in Pawleys Island and Georgetown has been chosen for promotion to the rank of major general.
Brig. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy III, who grew up in Georgetown County, is currently director of operations in the Plan, Policies and Operations unit at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Virginia.
His selection for promotion to major general will be presented to President Barrack Obama and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Once confirmed, he will serve as commanding general, 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan.
“I’m humbled by fact they want to promote me to major general and I’m excited about the opportunity to serve in the Marine Corps for close to 30 years now,” Clardy said.
“It is quite an honor. Hopefully I’ll be able to live up to that responsibility over the next couple of years.”
He said his responsibilities will include overseeing training, readiness and operations of a division of Marines.
“That covers everything from infantry and artillery to engineers and their deployment in the Western Pacific,” he said.
Clardy stated that he is proud to serve in the United States military.
“I’m proud to serve with the young men and women who volunteer to serve our country,” Clardy said. “They come from all around the U.S. and the American people have every right to be proud of these great Americans.”
Son of retired Navy Capt. Stacy Clardy Jr. of Pawleys Island, Clardy graduated from the University of South Carolina and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1983.
Other relatives in this area include his aunt, Susan Clardy in Georgetown and his cousins, including Richard Clerc and Tez Bonnoit.
Clardy served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, commanding the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion which was involved in the first large-scale engagements of the war.
In 2007, he again served in Iraq as commander of a regimental combat team.
Clardy was promoted to brigadier general in September 2009, when he took charge of the Marine Corps’ largest facility, the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command in Twentynine Palms, Calif.
By Clayton Stairs
cstairs@gtowntimes.com