Georgetown County native commands largest Marine Corps training facility
Last Updated on 3/18/2010
Published on 10/25/2009
Brigadier General H. Stacy Clardy III, a native of Georgetown County who calls this area home, has been promoted to Commanding General in the U.S. Marine Corps.
His current assignment, as of last month, is Commanding General of the largest U.S. Marine Corps training facility.
He is in charge of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.
"I was flattered that the board thinks I have what it takes to be a general officer in the Marine Corps," Clardy said. "I appreciate the opportunity to be in command in California."
This 932-square-mile training facility is the only place where marines can fire all types of war weapons.
He said a dual command appointment like this is usually reserved for a one-star general with more experience than he has, or even a two-star general.
Clardy's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (with a Gold Star and Combat Distinguishing Device), Bronze Star (with the Combat Distinguishing Device), Meritorious Service Medal (with two Gold Stars), Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with two Gold Stars), Combat Action Ribbon, and Presidential Unit Citation.
He recalls earning one medal near Bagdad where his battalion was ambushed by an Iraqi brigade.
"We were completely surrounded, but I was with 1,000 marines with their weapons aimed out and we had the air support we needed," Clardy said. "The fight only lasted 45 to 50 minutes. We destroyed the brigade."
Clardy was commissioned a second lieutenant on May 13, 1983 after graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
He received a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University in June 1997 and a Master of Arts (with Distinction) in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in June 2004.
His other formal military education includes The Basic School (1983), the Infantry Officers Course (1984), the Armor Officers Advanced Course and Cavalry Leaders Course (1991), and the Weapons Tactics Instructor Course (1992).
From 1985 to 1988, Clardy served as a heavy machine gun, rifle, and weapons platoon commander and company executive officer with 3d Battalion, 4th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
He deployed with the battalion to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the 26th Marine Amphibious Unit (Special Operations Capable).
He was promoted to first lieutenant on May 25, 1985.
In January 1988, he was transferred to Quantico, Virginia where he served as a tactics instructor at The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course.
He was promoted to captain on April 1, 1988. In November 1991, after graduating from Armor Officers Advanced Course, Brigadier General Clardy was assigned to 2d Light Armored Infantry Battalion (redesignated 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he served as company commander and battalion operations officer until June 1994.
Clardy was transferred in July 1994 to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana to become the Marine Officer Instructor, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit.
He was promoted to major on September 1, 1994.
In August 1997, he was reassigned to the Division of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps as the Head, Community Relations Branch.
Clardy transferred in July 1999 to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
He served as the operations officer for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and participated in Operation JOINT GUARDIAN in Kosovo.
He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in October 1999. In September 2000, he was assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force as the expeditionary operations officer.
In June 2001, Clardy was transferred to Twentynine Palms, California and assumed command of 3d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.
From January to June 2003, he participated in Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM in Iraq.
Upon graduation from the Naval War College in June 2004, he was reassigned to Marine Corps Base, Camp Smedley D. Butler, and Marine Corps Bases, Japan, as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-5 (Community Policy, Planning and Liaison).
He was promoted to colonel in October 2004. Brigadier General Clardy assumed command of 2d Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in June 2006. Between December 2006 and January 2008, he commanded Regimental Combat Team 2 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Clardy served as the Director of Expeditionary Warfare School from July 2008 to July 2009.
When he retires, Clardy said he and his wife will move back to Pawleys Island to be close to family members, including his father, Stacy Clardy Jr., a retired Navy captain.
Clardy and his wife, Allison (a retired lieutenant colonel and veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm), have three daughters, Kathleen, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, Mary, 12, and Shelby, 10.
"Allison and I look forward to coming back to Georgetown and Pawleys Island," Clardy said. "It is the only place I feel like I am home."
