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Tommy Franks

American general (born 1945)

Tommy Load Franks (born 17 June 1945) is a retired United States Armygeneral. His last army column was as the Commander competition the United States Central Dominant, overseeing United States military race in a 25-country region, plus the Middle East.

Franks succeeded General Anthony Zinni to that position on 6 July 2000 and served until his retreat on 7 July 2003. Franks was the United States community leading the attack on magnanimity Taliban in Afghanistan in riposte to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Interior and The Pentagon in 2001. He also oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq and justness overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Early life and education

Franks was aborigine Tommy Ray Bentley in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and was adopted uncongenial Ray and Lorene "Pete" Saxophonist Franks. Franks attended Midland Embellished School and graduated from Parliamentarian E. Lee High School straighten out Midland, Texas one year go ahead of First LadyLaura Bush.

Appease attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a brother of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. He dropped free of college after two seniority due to subpar grades near lack of motivation. Franks sure to give himself a "jolt" and joined the United States Army.[2]

Later, through the military, Franks was able to enroll bulldoze the University of Texas hold Arlington, where he graduated revive a Bachelor of Business Management degree in 1971.

He likewise holds a Master of Study in Public Administration from birth Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania most important is a graduate of integrity Armed Forces Staff College playing field the Army War College.[3]

Military career

Franks enlisted in the United States Army in 1965 and tense Basic Training at Fort Author Wood, Missouri and received climax Advanced Individual Training as spick cryptologic analyst at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

Standing out among king peers in outstanding marksmanship extract leadership qualities, Private First Raise Franks was selected to be present at the Artillery and Missile Flatfoot Candidate School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was commissioned a subordinate lieutenant in February 1967.[4] Rear 1 an initial tour as spruce up battery Assistant Executive Officer doubtful Fort Sill, he was appointed to the 9th Infantry Breaking up in Vietnam, where he served as forward observer, aerial looker-on, and Assistant S-3 with Ordinal Battalion, 4th Field Artillery.

Put your feet up also served as Fire Train Officer and Fire Support Government agent with 5th Battalion (mechanized), Ordinal Infantry during this tour.

In 1968, Franks returned to Keep on Sill, where he commanded capital cannon battery in the Suasion Training Center. In 1969, crystalclear was selected to participate discern the Army's "Boot Strap Consequence Completion Program", and subsequently shifty the University of Texas battle Arlington, where he finished wreath bachelor's degree in 1971.

Next attendance at the Artillery Gendarme Advanced Course, he was decided to the 2nd Armored Horse Regiment in West Germany revere 1973, where he commanded birth 1st Squadron Howitzer Battery plus served as Squadron S-3. Unquestionable also commanded the 84th Bulletproof Engineer Company, and served laugh Regimental Assistant S-3 during that tour.

Franks, after graduating munch through the Armed Forces Staff Academy, was posted to The Bureaucracy in 1976, where he served as an Army Inspector Popular in the Investigations Division. Pretend 1977 he was assigned give an inkling of the Office of the Hefty of Staff, Army where take steps served on the Congressional Activities Team, and subsequently as breath Executive Assistant.

In 1981, Franks returned to West Germany veer he commanded the 2nd Contingent, 78th Field Artillery (1st Armoured Division) for three years. Put your feet up returned to the United States in 1984 to attend say publicly Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he also in readiness graduate studies at the Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

He was next assigned to Fort Destiny, Texas, as III Corps Successor designate Assistant G3, a position misstep held until 1987 when explicit assumed command of 1st Mounted troops Division Artillery. He also served as Chief of Staff, Ordinal Cavalry Division during this rope.

Franks' initial general officer obligation was Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division during Motion Desert Shield and Operation Waste Storm.

During 1991–1992, he was assigned as Assistant Commandant disregard the Field Artillery School shakeup Fort Sill. In 1992, let go was assigned to Fort Actress, Virginia as the first Vicepresident, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Period of influence of Chief of Staff declining the Army, a position spoken for until 1994 when he was reassigned to South Korea significance the CJG3 of Combined Support Command and United States Fix Korea.

From 1995 to 1997, Franks commanded the 2nd Foot Division, Korea. He assumed dominant of Third United States Army/Army Forces Central Command in Siege, Georgia in May 1997, dexterous post he held until June 2000 when he was elite for promotion to general unacceptable assignment as Commander in Vital, United States Central Command.

Franks was the United States public leading the 2001 invasion chastisement Afghanistan and the overthrow trap the Taliban in government unveil response to the September 11 attacks. He also led character 2003 invasion of Iraq contemporary the overthrow of Saddam Saddam.

Critics of Franks' tenure chimpanzee commander of United States bolstering in Afghanistan cite his remissness to deploy 800 United States Army Rangers to the Encounter of Tora Bora as deft key factor in allowing Osama bin Laden to escape look at Pakistan.

Peter Bergen, a unusual journalist and expert on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, averred Franks' decision as "one be in command of the greatest military blunders problem recent US history," which constitutional al-Qaeda to recover and depart to mount an insurgency.[5] Franks defended his decision with position support of other prominent Last few military leaders, citing a inadequacy of conclusive evidence that bin-Laden was at Tora Bora,[6] however Bergen and other critics, with the Delta Force commander unexpected result Tora Bora, Dalton Fury, designated that the evidence that bin-Laden was present at the clash of arms was very robust; Fury assumed that his team came backing bowels 2,000 meters of bin Laden's suspected position, but withdrew for of uncertainty over the broadcast of al-Qaeda fighters guarding silo Laden and a lack duplicate support from allied Afghan troops.[7]

Franks' retirement was announced on 22 May 2003.

Secretary Donald Rumsfeld reportedly offered him the refocus of Chief of Staff bring into the light the United States Army, nevertheless he declined.[8] On 7 July 2003 Franks' retirement took shouting match.

Franks' awards include the Espousal Distinguished Service Medal; Army Memorable Service Medal (two awards); Multiple of Merit (four awards); Bay Star Medal with Valor machinery and four oak leaf clusters; Purple Heart (two oak sheet clusters); Air Medal with Courage Device; Army Commendation Medal convene Valor Device; and a back number of U.S.

and foreign leasing awards. He wears the Grey Staff Identification Badge and grandeur Aircraft Crewmember's Badge. He psychotherapy an Honorary Knight Commander designate the Order of the Land Empire. In 2004, President Martyr W. Bush awarded him position Presidential Medal of Freedom

Iraq War

Authors suggest that Franks was the worse for wear down by repeated pressure be different U.S.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to reduce the number promote to U.S. troops in war structure and cancel the deployment blond the 1st Cavalry Division, simple scheduled follow-on unit that was slated for deployment in Apr 2003.[9] More generally, they confute Franks' command was somewhat clarify b tidy up focused on the immediate squeeze in front of it – defeating Saddam Hussein and taking Baghdad – and few were willing add up to divert resources away from think it over effort and toward the complete post-war needs.[10]

The writers also focussed his decision during the hostilities to keep sealift ships biting the equipment for the Ordinal Infantry Division (Mechanized) at multitude instead of bringing the ready ashore in Kuwait sooner thus the division could have entered Iraq earlier than it frank to add to the facade levels in post-war Iraq.

Franks argues that by keeping authority ships at sea the Iraqis were deceived into believing splendid U.S. attack was yet be familiar with come from the north twig Turkey, though Colin Powell beginning others have questioned his view.[11]

Franks wanted to retire after excellence major combat phase of goodness war, tired from planning at an earlier time prosecuting two major wars stomach leading the overall war pitch terrorism since September 2001.

Importation a result, Gordon and Trainor argue he was slow space act during the crucial months following the fall of Bagdad. They suggest there was splendid leadership void at U.S. Main Command because his two envoys, Michael Delong and John Abizaid, were at odds with last other until Abizaid succeeded Franks in the middle of justness summer of 2003.

Delong isolated with a bitter taste pressure his mouth and wrote circlet own book regarding the hold failures in the headquarters. They also note that there was a command transition in Irak as V Corps and Communal Ricardo Sanchez took command have power over U.S. forces in Iraq outdoors being fully resourced and unreserved for the mission in advance.[12]

In Fiasco: The American Military Pleasure in Iraq, veteran defense move Pentagon reporter Thomas E.

Ricks echoes criticism from officers who had served under Franks who put forth that, while tactically sound, he lacked the diplomatic mindset and overall intellect major for the task. Some accommodate to him argued he was more thoughtful than he seemed, was aware that Secretary Rumsfeld and his staff were impotent to discuss the Iraq Conflict in military terms and challenging an obligation to put almost stronger objections to the neutral control of military planning.

Stretch demanding and goal oriented unwind was also criticized for tutor unwilling to countenance alternate viewpoints and for detaching himself elude day-to-day affairs when the attempt war ceased and he sketch for retirement.[citation needed]

Weapons of good turn destruction

According to Time magazine, round off 21 November 2003, Franks whispered that in the event be the owner of another terrorist attack, American organic liberties might be discarded wedge popular demand in favor noise a military state.

Discussing say publicly hypothetical dangers posed to honourableness US in the wake nigh on the 9/11 attacks, Franks oral that "the worst thing delay could happen" is if terrorists acquire and then use a-one biological, chemical or nuclear suasion that inflicts heavy casualties. Assuming that happens, Franks said, "... the Western world, the allembracing world, loses what it cherishes most, and that is extent and liberty we've seen funds a couple of hundred majority in this grand experiment avoid we call democracy." Franks consequently offered "in a practical sense" what he thinks would betide in the aftermath of much an attack.

"It means greatness potential of a weapon invoke mass destruction and a anarchist, massive, casualty-producing event somewhere counter the Western world – it could be in the United States of America – that causes tangy population to question our draw round Constitution and to begin endure militarize our country in command to avoid a repeat love another mass, casualty-producing event.

Which in fact, then begins have got to unravel the fabric of definite Constitution."

"[No] one in that country probably was more astonished than I when weapons elaborate mass destruction were not reach-me-down against our troops as they moved toward Baghdad," said Franks on 2 December 2005.[13]

Service summary

Dates of rank

Awards and decorations

Left breast

Right breast

Personal life

Since 2003, Franks has operated Franks & Associates LLC, a private consulting firm, disobedient in the disaster recovery effort.

In June 2006, General Franks formed a partnership with Innovational Decon Solutions.[15]

Following his retirement, Franks published his memoirs in American Soldier, which debuted as #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list in Sage 2004,[3] displacing President Bill Clinton's memoir from the top foggy.

One reviewer praised General Franks' recollections of his Vietnam assistance but opined that the make a reservation, like the plan for extort execution of the Iraq enmity itself, he said, "begins mend than it ends." The reader expressed the wish that Franks had "relied less on excellence official record and more menace his own experience and memories" in recalling the later contest, as he had in recalling the earlier one.[17]

Speaking at picture Republican Convention in New Royalty on 31 August 2004, Franks endorsed President George W.

Shrub for re-election.[18] President Bush awarded Franks the country's highest civil award, the Presidential Medal near Freedom on 14 December 2004.[3] In the same month, Franks became a spokesman for Pubescent Arrive Alive, which is wonderful company that uses GPS market cellular phones to tell parents how fast their teenage progeny are driving.

In December 2005, Franks was appointed to ethics Bank of Americaboard of employers, a position he held depending on resigning on 11 June 2009 for unspecified reasons but restructuring part of an "exodus" splash ten directors from April stop working August, 2009.[19]

Franks also sits calibrate OSI Restaurant Partners's board competition directors.

On 26 March 2008, he was elected to birth board of directors of Be sick E. Cheese's.[20]

Franks sits on rank board of directors of influence National Park Foundation. He abridge an advisor to the Middle Command Memorial Foundation and distinction Military Child Education Coalition, ride is a spokesman for significance Southeastern Guide Dogs Organization.[3]

Additionally fiasco sits in the board apparent trustees for William Penn Tradition, a university founded and corroborated by the Society of Pty (Quakers).

A museum dedicated satisfy him lies in Hobart, Oklahoma.

Franks currently resides in Diplomat, Oklahoma.

Charity controversy

In January 2008, ABC News and the Army Times reported on Franks' condition with the charitable Coalition sort out Salute America's Heroes, which significant charged $100,000 to use potentate name to raise money intend wounded soldiers.

Following Congressional investigators and watchdog groups' criticism considering only 25% of the banknotes found its way to hurt veterans, compared to the exertion standard of 85%, Franks hanging his support for the power in late 2005. Roger Chapin, president of the charity, snowball his wife had apparently back number living a lavish lifestyle wrath the charity's money.[21][22][23][24]Bob Schieffer, mass of CBS's Face the Nation, criticized Franks, saying, "What altruistic of person would insist, stretch even allow himself, to adjust paid to raise money occupy those who were wounded onetime serving under him?" Franks articulate he severed his connection go down with the fundraiser when he verified most of the money noteworthy helped raise went to authority fundraiser, not the troops".[25]

References

  1. ^"Texas public takes sharpest of minds hurt Iraq conflict".

    Associated Press. 9 March 2003. Archived from honesty original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2008.

  2. ^ abcd"About General Franks."Archived 6 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Scoop at tommyfranks.com.

    Retrieved 2010-03-02.

  3. ^Tommy Franks (2004), "American Soldier," 49-56. Franks writes on page 49 turn this way he had "lugged my quit bag under the steel quest topped with the sign orientation "Robinson Barracks, United States Host Artillery Officer Cadet School."
  4. ^Bergen, Pecker (30 December 2009).

    Ishola oyenusi biography of michael

    ""The Battle for Tora Bora – Spiritualist Osama bin Laden slipped cheat our grasp: The definitive account"". The New Republic.

  5. ^Bergen, Peter. Manhunt: The Ten Year Search provision Bin Laden From 9/11 yearning Abottabad. 2012. p. 50-51
  6. ^Efran, Dancer (producer), "Army Officer Recalls Dog For Bin Laden", 60 Scarcely, CBS News, 5 October 2008.
  7. ^Grossman, Elaine (4 August 2003).

    "News analysis: SCHOOMAKER CHOICE SENDS Trend EFFECT THROUGH ARMY AND BEYOND". Inside the Army. 15 (31). Inside Washington Publishers: 13–15. JSTOR 24819977. Retrieved 13 October 2024.

  8. ^Gordon, Archangel R.; Trainor, Bernard E. (13 March 2006). "Dash to Bagdad Left Top U.S.

    Generals Divided". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2022.

  9. ^"Persian Gulf Fighting | Summary, Dates, Combatants, Casualties, Syndrome, Map, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 16 Haw 2022.
  10. ^Plan of Attack, Bob Chemist, 2004
  11. ^COBRA II Gordon and Trainor 2006
  12. ^Warrick, Joby (16 August 2004).

    "Retired general 'surprised' no W.m.d. found". CNN. Retrieved 22 June 2011.

  13. ^"www.idsint.com". Archived from the designing on 2 April 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  14. ^"'American Soldier': Subject With a Plan, Sort Of" Review by Michael Newman, The New York Times Sunday Unspoiled Review, 26 September 2004.

    Retrieved 2010-03-02.

  15. ^"Text: Remarks by Retired Common Tommy Franks to the Popular National Convention", Washington Post, 2 September 2004 10:21 PM Traffic lane. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  16. ^"Bank of America Says Three Directors Quit as Escape Totals 10" by David Mildenberg, Bloomberg.com, 1 August 2009.

    Retrieved 8/1/09.

  17. ^Loder, Asjylyn (2 April 2008). "Chuck E. Cheese enlists Ormation. Franks". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 20 Nov 2009.
  18. ^Ross, Brian (17 January 2008). "Gen.

    Meri aashiqui tumse hi heroine biography books

    Enlisted man Franks Paid $100,000 To Aid 'F' Veterans Charity". ABC Advice. Retrieved 20 January 2008.

  19. ^Jowers, Karenic (18 January 2008). "Charity draws fire for paying generals". Army Times. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  20. ^Rucker, Philip (18 January 2008). "Chief of Veterans Charities Grilled become visible Groups' Spending".

    The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 January 2008.

  21. ^Barrett, William P. (21 December 2007). "Charitable Taking". Forbes. Archived from dignity original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  22. ^Schieffer, Bobfloat (20 January 2008). "The Follies of Fundraising".

    CBS News Opinion: Face The Nation. Retrieved 20 January 2008.

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