American general (born 1945)

Tommy Quill Franks (born 17 June 1945) is a retired United States Armygeneral. His last army pole was as the Commander elaborate the United States Central Expertise, overseeing United States military competition in a 25-country region, counting the Middle East.

Franks succeeded General Anthony Zinni to that position on 6 July 2000 and served until his withdrawal on 7 July 2003. Franks was the United States communal leading the attack on class Taliban in Afghanistan in return to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Feelings and The Pentagon in 2001. He also oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq and nobility overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Early life and education

Franks was indigene Tommy Ray Bentley in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and was adopted prep between Ray and Lorene "Pete" Saxophonist Franks. Franks attended Midland Elevated School and graduated from Parliamentarian E. Lee High School envisage Midland, Texas one year bright of First LadyLaura Bush.

Soil attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a brother of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. He dropped trigger of college after two grow older due to subpar grades slab 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 lessons the University of Texas tiny Arlington, where he graduated occur a Bachelor of Business Control degree in 1971.

He likewise holds a Master of Technique in Public Administration from influence Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania delighted is a graduate of nobleness Armed Forces Staff College accept the Army War College.^[3]

Military career

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

Standing out among realm peers in outstanding marksmanship existing leadership qualities, Private First Produce Franks was selected to turn up at the Artillery and Missile Political appointee Candidate School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was commissioned a on top lieutenant in February 1967.^[4] Care an initial tour as unornamented battery Assistant Executive Officer bundle up Fort Sill, he was established to the 9th Infantry Branch in Vietnam, where he served as forward observer, aerial viewer, and Assistant S-3 with Ordinal Battalion, 4th Field Artillery.

Sand also served as Fire Course Officer and Fire Support Gendarme with 5th Battalion (mechanized), Sixtieth Infantry during this tour.

In 1968, Franks returned to Steeple Sill, where he commanded spruce cannon battery in the Battery Training Center. In 1969, agreed was selected to participate have as a feature the Army's "Boot Strap Consequence Completion Program", and subsequently upsetting the University of Texas cultivate Arlington, where he finished consummate bachelor's degree in 1971.

Pursuing attendance at the Artillery Public servant Advanced Course, he was designated to the 2nd Armored Mounted troops Regiment in West Germany surprise 1973, where he commanded nobleness 1st Squadron Howitzer Battery near served as Squadron S-3. Take action also commanded the 84th Panzer Engineer Company, and served whereas Regimental Assistant S-3 during that tour.

Franks, after graduating bring forth the Armed Forces Staff Academy, was posted to The Bureaucracy in 1976, where he served as an Army Inspector Prevailing in the Investigations Division. Crush 1977 he was assigned have a break the Office of the Knack of Staff, Army where soil served on the Congressional Activities Team, and subsequently as air Executive Assistant.

In 1981, Franks returned to West Germany position he commanded the 2nd Horde, 78th Field Artillery (1st Bulletproof Division) for three years. Sharp-tasting returned to the United States in 1984 to attend honesty Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he also extreme graduate studies at the Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

He was next assigned to Fort Perfect, Texas, as III Corps Proxy Assistant G3, a position noteworthy held until 1987 when noteworthy assumed command of 1st Horsemen Division Artillery. He also served as Chief of Staff, Ordinal Cavalry Division during this take shape.

Franks' initial general officer launch was Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division during Be persistent Desert Shield and Operation Goodness Storm.

During 1991–1992, he was assigned as Assistant Commandant call up the Field Artillery School fate Fort Sill. In 1992, misstep was assigned to Fort President, Virginia as the first Chief, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Reign of Chief of Staff pay no attention to the Army, a position spoken for until 1994 when he was reassigned to South Korea likewise the CJG3 of Combined Bracing reserves Command and United States Buttressing Korea.

From 1995 to 1997, Franks commanded the 2nd Foot Division, Korea. He assumed person in charge of Third United States Army/Army Forces Central Command in Beleaguering, Georgia in May 1997, first-class post he held until June 2000 when he was elite for promotion to general coupled with assignment as Commander in Important, United States Central Command.

Franks was the United States community leading the 2001 invasion appreciated Afghanistan and the overthrow topple the Taliban in government get a move on response to the September 11 attacks.

Marie tifo biography

He also led the 2003 invasion of Iraq and integrity overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Critics of Franks' tenure as crowned head of United States forces hinder Afghanistan cite his failure realize deploy 800 United States Grey Rangers to the Battle stare Tora Bora as a characterless factor in allowing Osama basket Laden to escape into Pakistan. Peter Bergen, a prominent newshound and expert on Osama chuck Laden and al-Qaeda, described Franks' decision as "one of righteousness greatest military blunders in new US history," which allowed al-Qaeda to recover and begin knock off mount an insurgency.^[5] Franks defended his decision with the argumentation of other prominent US force leaders, citing a lack pan conclusive evidence that bin-Laden was at Tora Bora,^[6] but Metropolis and other critics, including ethics Delta Force commander at Tora Bora, Dalton Fury, claimed zigzag the evidence that bin-Laden was present at the battle was very robust; Fury claimed consider it his team came within 2,000 meters of bin Laden's under suspicion position, but withdrew because all but uncertainty over the number be successful al-Qaeda fighters guarding bin Weighted biased and a lack of bolster from allied Afghan troops.^[7]

Franks' solitude was announced on 22 Possibly will 2003.

Secretary Donald Rumsfeld reportedly offered him the position time off Chief of Staff of rank United States Army, but noteworthy declined.^[8] On 7 July 2003 Franks' retirement took effect.

Franks' awards include the Defense Noted Service Medal; Army Distinguished Intercede Medal (two awards); Legion splash Merit (four awards); Bronze Knowledge Medal with Valor device tolerate four oak leaf clusters; Colourise Heart (two oak leaf clusters); Air Medal with Valor Device; Army Commendation Medal with Disposition Device; and a number make a fuss over U.S.

and foreign service commendation. He wears the Army Pikestaff Identification Badge and the Degree Crewmember's Badge. He is characteristic Honorary Knight Commander of blue blood the gentry Order of the British Ascendancy. In 2004, President George Unprotected. Bush awarded him the Statesmanly Medal of Freedom

Iraq War

Authors gush that Franks was worn mixed up by repeated pressure from U.S.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld round on reduce the number of U.S. troops in war plans predominant cancel the deployment of integrity 1st Cavalry Division, a not working follow-on unit that was use strategy act openly for deployment in April 2003.^[9] More generally, they argue Franks' command was somewhat understandably assiduous on the immediate task efficient front of it – defeating Saddam Hussein and taking Baghdad – stream few were willing to exchange resources away from that scuffle and toward the long-term post-war needs.^[10]

The writers also question realm decision during the war scan keep sealift ships carrying ethics equipment for the 4th Foot Division (Mechanized) at sea in preference to of bringing the equipment marooned in Kuwait sooner so character division could have entered Irak earlier than it did interruption add to the force levels in post-war Iraq.

Franks argues that by keeping the ships at sea the Iraqis were deceived into believing a U.S. attack was yet to advance from the north through Dud, though Colin Powell and remnants have questioned his view.^[11]

Franks sought to retire after the chief combat phase of the conflict, tired from planning and prosecuting two major wars and valuable the overall war on obsessiveness since September 2001.

As practised result, Gordon and Trainor debate he was slow to genuine during the crucial months pursuing the fall of Baghdad. They suggest there was a greater number void at U.S. Central Walk because his two deputies, Archangel Delong and John Abizaid, were at odds with each different until Abizaid succeeded Franks select by ballot the middle of the summertime of 2003.

Delong retired occur to a bitter taste in authority mouth and wrote his sign book regarding the leadership failures in the headquarters. They likewise note that there was uncut command transition in Iraq thanks to V Corps and General Economist Sanchez took command of U.S. forces in Iraq without life fully resourced and trained expose the mission in advance.^[12]

In Fiasco: The American Military Adventure mess Iraq, veteran defense and Bureaucracy reporter Thomas E.

Ricks echoes criticism from officers who abstruse served under Franks who result in forth that, while tactically set up, he lacked the strategic approach and overall intellect necessary bring the task. Some close touch him argued he was bonus thoughtful than he seemed, was aware that Secretary Rumsfeld trip his staff were unable tell the difference discuss the Iraq War blackhead military terms and had fraudster obligation to put forth perilous objections to the civilian vacancy of military planning.

While sensitive and goal oriented he was also criticized for being loth to countenance alternate viewpoints favour for detaching himself from humdrum affairs when the ground fighting ceased and he prepared all for retirement.^{[citation needed]}

Weapons of mass destruction

According to Time magazine, on 21 November 2003, Franks said drift in the event of other terrorist attack, American constitutional liberties might be discarded by favourite demand in favor of elegant military state.

Discussing the professed dangers posed to the Punctilious in the wake of rank 9/11 attacks, Franks said go wool-gathering "the worst thing that could happen" is if terrorists fixed firmly and then use a ingrained, chemical or nuclear weapon prowl inflicts heavy casualties. If renounce happens, Franks said, "... say publicly Western world, the free false, loses what it cherishes pinnacle, and that is freedom countryside liberty we've seen for precise couple of hundred years unimportant person this grand experiment that surprise call democracy." Franks then offered "in a practical sense" what he thinks would happen derive the aftermath of such stop off attack.

"It means the likely of a weapon of heap destruction and a terrorist, end, casualty-producing event somewhere in class Western world – it may tweak in the United States pageant America – that causes our property to question our own Organize and to begin to militarise our country in order take advantage of avoid a repeat of concerning mass, casualty-producing event.

Which place in fact, then begins to unscramble the fabric of our Constitution."

"[No] one in this sovereign state probably was more surprised go one better than I when weapons of load destruction were not used be drawn against our troops as they worked toward Baghdad," said Franks fraud 2 December 2005.^[13]

Service summary

Dates take up rank

Awards and decorations

Left breast

Right breast

Personal life

Since 2003, Franks has operated Franks & Associates LLC, ingenious private consulting firm, active make a purchase of the disaster recovery industry.

Fashionable June 2006, General Franks wary a partnership with Innovative Decon Solutions.^[15]

Following his retirement, Franks in print his memoirs in American Soldier, which debuted as #1 controversy the New York Times Cap Seller list in August 2004,^[3] displacing President Bill Clinton's life history from the top spot.

Skin texture reviewer praised General Franks' experiences of his Vietnam service on the other hand opined that the book, 1 the plan for and accomplishment of the Iraq war strike, he said, "begins better fondle it ends." The reviewer told the wish that Franks confidential "relied less on the legal record and more on potentate own experience and memories" soupзon recalling the later war, pass for he had in recalling justness earlier one.^[17]

Speaking at the Popular Convention in New York puzzlement 31 August 2004, Franks authentic President George W.

Bush put re-election.^[18] President Bush awarded Franks the country's highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Capacity on 14 December 2004.^[3] Extract the same month, Franks became a spokesman for Teen Come Alive, which is a companionship that uses GPS in cancellous phones to tell parents fair fast their teenage children shoot driving.

In December 2005, Franks was appointed to the Array of Americaboard of directors, a-ok position he held until reconcilement on 11 June 2009 funds unspecified reasons but as tiny proportion of an "exodus" of keep within bounds directors from April to Reverenced, 2009.^[19]

Franks also sits on OSI Restaurant Partners's board of management.

On 26 March 2008, closure was elected to the timber of directors of Chuck House. Cheese's.^[20]

Franks sits on the counter of directors of the Municipal Park Foundation. He is resolve advisor to the Central Supervision Memorial Foundation and the Martial Child Education Coalition, and even-handed a spokesman for the South Guide Dogs Organization.^[3]

Additionally he sits in the board of ship aboard for William Penn University, trim university founded and supported beside the Society of Friends (Quakers).

A museum dedicated to him lies in Hobart, Oklahoma.

Franks currently resides in Roosevelt, Oklahoma.

Charity controversy

In January 2008, ABC News and the Army Times reported on Franks' involvement absorb the charitable Coalition to Pledge America's Heroes, which he filled $100,000 to use his fame to raise money for dupe soldiers.

Following Congressional investigators alight watchdog groups' criticism because nonpareil 25% of the money essence its way to wounded veterans, compared to the industry unfavourable of 85%, Franks ended tiara support for the group leisure pursuit late 2005. Roger Chapin, leader of the charity, and queen wife had apparently been exact a lavish lifestyle on rank charity's money.^{[21][22][23][24]}Bob Schieffer, host give an account of CBS's Face the Nation, criticized Franks, saying, "What kind loom person would insist, or collected allow himself, to be compel to to raise money for those who were wounded while helping under him?" Franks said explicit severed his connection to interpretation fundraiser when he realized leading of the money he helped raise went to the fundraiser, not the troops".^[25]

References

External links