The U.S. Army’s 842nd Transportation Battalion headquartered at the Port of Beaumont recently welcomed new commander Lt. Col. Tom Clady.
Clady is a 1985 graduate of Leesville High School.
“Tom was a wonderful student and one of my favorites,” said Ann Smith, an elementary school teacher who had Clady as a student. “At nine years old he already had the leadership skills necessary to be the success that he is.”
Clady, a Distinguished Military Graduate from Northeast Louisiana University, was commissioned into the Regular Army as a 2nd Lt. in the Transportation Corps in 1989.
Clady earned his Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing from NLU (now called UL-Monroe) and a Master of Science in Administration Degree from Central Michigan University.
The change of command ceremony was held aboard the M/V Cape Vincent, one of two Ready Reserve Force ships moored at the Port of Beaumont.
Clady arrived from Fort Hood where he was assigned to the U.S. Army’s Third Corps headquarters.
The 842nd Transportation Battalion is part of the Army’s Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. This command serves as the “pushers” that assist deploying Army units in getting their equipment loaded on ships and sent overseas.
The unit also receives equipment when units return home and coordinates commercial rail and truck activities to move equipment back to its home station. The unit is composed of military personnel and civilian employees and works with the Port of Beaumont and commercial loading and unloading contractors to move military equipment.
Clady’s military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (fifth Award), Army Commendation Medal (fourth award), Army Achievement Medal (sixth award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal (second award), Armed Forces Expeditionary medal (second award), Iraqi campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, the United Nations Medal and the NATO Medal.
While in high school, Clady worked at the old Piggly Wiggly in Leesville for both Sen. John Smith and Vernon Parish School Board Member Mark Smith.
“Tom has always been a wonderful person,” said John Smith. “He was a great student, citizen and employee. While at work he always went beyond what was expected to make sure his job was done. He comes from a great family and I am not surprised one bit to see the success he has become.”
Clady is married to the former Stacy Mills and has two children, Paul and Kristen.
The Beaumont Enterprise contributed to this story.
Beaumont, Texas —
