More detail on this person: Colonel Thomas W Clark, 46 of Juneau, Alaska OBITUARIES Anchorage Daily News (AK) - Wednesday, November 18, 1992 Alaska Army National Guardsman Col. Thomas W. Clark, 46, died Nov. 12 in a plane crash north of Juneau. There will be a visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Evergreen Memorial Chapel West, and a service at 9 a.m. Friday at Main Post Chapel at Fort Richardson, with the Rev. John Hinsvark officiating. Burial will be at Fort Richardson National Cemetery with full military honors. Col. Clark was born Dec. 9, 1945, in Champaign, Ill. He began his military career in 1965 as a private in the U.S. Army assigned as an aircraft maintenance crewman at Fort Rucker, Ala. He entered Warrant Officer Candidate Fixed Wing Flight Training there and was appointed a warrant officer and awarded the Army Aviators Badge. His first assignment was as a U-1A helicopter pilot, then as an instructor pilot with the 18th Aviation Co. in Vietnam. He was commissioned a 1st lieutenant, infantry, in 1969. Other assignments included platoon leader, chief fixed wing instructor pilot branch of the Army Aviation School; executive officer, 1989th Aviation Co.; Commander, 134th Public Affairs Detachment; and director, Personnel and Family Assistance. Col. Clark was assigned as the State Army Aviation Officer on March 25, 1989. Col. Clark was a Master Army Aviator with over 5,000 hours of flight time, including 1,900 combat hours. His military education includes Infantry Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and Rotary and Fixed Wing Aviator Qualification Courses. His awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, 24 Air Medals including the "V" Device, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with seven campaign stars, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Alaska Commendation Medal, Alaska State Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm and five overseas bars, and U.S. Navy Presidential Unit Citation. His family said: "Col. Clark was an adoring and devoted husband to his beloved Nicki. He cherished her in every sense of the word. While providing her with support and encouragement in the fulfillment of her own dreams, he contributed much to that end. In this respect though, Tom was not one to dominate. He knew how to accept love, too. His life with Nicki was, in every respect, an equal partnership. Tom was an avid sailor who most weekends could be found in Seward on his sailboat, 'Wings.' As with his career, so too his private life. Tom was much loved and admired by all he touched for the selfless way in which he always placed the welfare of others before his own. Col. Clark will be sadly missed by all." Col. Clark is survived by his wife, Nicola; his sons, William, Troy and Tracy of Florida; his sisters, Kerry Caldwell, Candice Boehm and Cynthia Liner; his step-mother, Virginia Clark; his aunt, Dorothy Clark; his step- sisters, Jane Cole, Nita Frazier and Janita Thibodeaux; his step-brother, Joseph Thibodeaux; and his grandchildren, who affectionately called him "Papa," Jennifer, Justin, Ryan and Thomas. The pallbearers are William D. Clark, Troy D. Clark, Tracy D. Clark, John G. Phelps, Larry Weaver, Bill Masker, Charlie Hamilton and Joseph Thibodeaux.
Burial information: Fort Richardson National Cemetery, Fort Richardson, AK
This information was last updated 02/27/2018
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