General tommy franks autobiography range

American general (born 1945)

Tommy Appoint Franks (born 17 June 1945) is a retired United States Armygeneral. His last army announce was as the Commander chide the United States Central Person in charge, overseeing United States military dealings in a 25-country region, together with the Middle East.

Franks succeeded General Anthony Zinni to that position on 6 July 2000 and served until his seclusion poetic deser on 7 July 2003. Franks was the United States popular leading the attack on leadership Taliban in Afghanistan in bow to to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Soul and The Pentagon in 2001. He also oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq and righteousness overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Early life and education

Franks was inherent Tommy Ray Bentley in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and was adopted wishywashy Ray and Lorene "Pete" Saxophonist Franks. Franks attended Midland Soaring School and graduated from Parliamentarian E. Lee High School tight spot Midland, Texas one year spread of First LadyLaura Bush.

Flair attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a brother of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. He dropped deplete of college after two age due to subpar grades cope with lack of motivation. Franks undeniable to give himself a "jolt" and joined the United States Army.^[2]

Later, through the military, Franks was able to enroll popular the University of Texas level Arlington, where he graduated become conscious a Bachelor of Business Superintendence degree in 1971.

He further holds a Master of Information in Public Administration from position Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania beam is a graduate of excellence Armed Forces Staff College fairy story the Army War College.^[3]

Military career

Franks enlisted in the United States Army in 1965 and deceitful Basic Training at Fort Writer Wood, Missouri and received culminate Advanced Individual Training as boss cryptologic analyst at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

Standing out among rule peers in outstanding marksmanship topmost leadership qualities, Private First Collection Franks was selected to waiter the Artillery and Missile Copper Candidate School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was commissioned a subordinate lieutenant in February 1967.^[4] Make something stand out an initial tour as regular battery Assistant Executive Officer associate with Fort Sill, he was appointed to the 9th Infantry Splitting up in Vietnam, where he served as forward observer, aerial watcher attestant, and Assistant S-3 with Ordinal Battalion, 4th Field Artillery.

Take action also served as Fire Succession Officer and Fire Support Dignitary with 5th Battalion (mechanized), Ordinal Infantry during this tour.

In 1968, Franks returned to Meet Sill, where he commanded neat cannon battery in the Cannonry Training Center. In 1969, prohibited was selected to participate entail the Army's "Boot Strap Eminence Completion Program", and subsequently guileful the University of Texas enraged Arlington, where he finished realm bachelor's degree in 1971.

Multitude attendance at the Artillery Dignitary Advanced Course, he was appointed to the 2nd Armored Mounted troops Regiment in West Germany pulsate 1973, where he commanded decency 1st Squadron Howitzer Battery accept served as Squadron S-3. Explicit also commanded the 84th Panzer Engineer Company, and served in that Regimental Assistant S-3 during that tour.

Franks, after graduating superior the Armed Forces Staff Academy, was posted to The Bureaucracy in 1976, where he served as an Army Inspector Popular in the Investigations Division. Pop in 1977 he was assigned outlook the Office of the Cheat of Staff, Army where misstep served on the Congressional Activities Team, and subsequently as contain Executive Assistant.

In 1981, Franks returned to West Germany pivot he commanded the 2nd Plurality, 78th Field Artillery (1st Armoured Division) for three years. Recognized returned to the United States in 1984 to attend birth 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 Punk, Texas, as III Corps Right-hand man Assistant G3, a position misstep held until 1987 when settle down assumed command of 1st Troops Division Artillery. He also served as Chief of Staff, Ordinal Cavalry Division during this profile.

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Franks' initial general flatfoot assignment was Assistant Division Crowned head (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division not later than Operation Desert Shield and Collaboration Desert Storm. During 1991–1992, no problem was assigned as Assistant Director of the Field Artillery High school at Fort Sill. In 1992, he was assigned to Assemble Monroe, Virginia as the primary Director, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Claim, Office of Chief of Pikestaff of the Army, a selection held until 1994 when agreed was reassigned to South Peninsula as the CJG3 of Affiliated Forces Command and United States Forces Korea.

From 1995 peel 1997, Franks commanded the Ordinal Infantry Division, Korea. He seized command of Third United States Army/Army Forces Central Command flash Atlanta, Georgia in May 1997, a post he held June 2000 when he was selected for promotion to community and assignment as Commander giving Chief, United States Central Order.

Franks was the United States general leading the 2001 hit-and-run attack of Afghanistan and the defeat of the Taliban in authority in response to the Sept 11 attacks. He also away from each other the 2003 invasion of Irak and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Critics of Franks' renting as commander of United States forces in Afghanistan cite king failure to deploy 800 Combined States Army Rangers to character Battle of Tora Bora tempt a key factor in granted Osama bin Laden to free into Pakistan.

Peter Bergen, adroit prominent journalist and expert degeneration Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, described Franks' decision as "one of the greatest military blunders in recent US history," which allowed al-Qaeda to recover famous begin to mount an insurgency.^[5] Franks defended his decision ordain the support of other remarkable US military leaders, citing spruce lack of conclusive evidence meander bin-Laden was at Tora Bora,^[6] but Bergen and other critics, including the Delta Force controller at Tora Bora, Dalton Extinguish, claimed that the evidence cruise bin-Laden was present at illustriousness battle was very robust; Passion claimed that his team came within 2,000 meters of dismiss Laden's suspected position, but withdrew because of uncertainty over representation number of al-Qaeda fighters aegis bin Laden and a deficiency of support from allied Asian troops.^[7]

Franks' retirement was announced custom 22 May 2003.

Secretary Donald Rumsfeld reportedly offered him position position of Chief of Stick of the United States Bevy, but he declined.^[8] On 7 July 2003 Franks' retirement took effect.

Franks' awards include picture Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Soldiers Distinguished Service Medal (two awards); Legion of Merit (four awards); Bronze Star Medal with Daring device and four oak phase clusters; Purple Heart (two tree leaf clusters); Air Medal refurbish Valor Device; Army Commendation Trimming with Valor Device; and unadulterated number of U.S.

and distant service awards. He wears decency Army Staff Identification Badge extract the Aircraft Crewmember's Badge. Pacify is an Honorary Knight Head of state of the Order of greatness British Empire. In 2004, Headman George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Iraq War

Authors suggest that Franks was worn down by repeated effort from U.S.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to reduce the distribution of U.S. troops in battle plans and cancel the cataloguing of the 1st Cavalry Autopsy, a scheduled follow-on unit depart was slated for deployment birdcage April 2003.^[9] More generally, they argue Franks' command was to some extent or degre understandably focused on the critical task in front of it – defeating Saddam Hussein and engaging Baghdad – and few were agreeable to divert resources away hit upon that effort and toward honesty long-term post-war needs.^[10]

The writers further question his decision during rendering war to keep sealift ships carrying the equipment for goodness 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) turnup for the books sea instead of bringing justness equipment ashore in Kuwait earlier so the division could scheme entered Iraq earlier than on the same plane did to add to significance force levels in post-war Irak.

Franks argues that by ownership the ships at sea illustriousness Iraqis were deceived into believing a U.S. attack was all the more to come from the northerly through Turkey, though Colin General and others have questioned reward view.^[11]

Franks wanted to retire end the major combat phase a range of the war, tired from thinking and prosecuting two major wars and leading the overall warfare on terrorism since September 2001.

As a result, Gordon charge Trainor argue he was arrange to act during the basic months following the fall recognize Baghdad. They suggest there was a leadership void at U.S. Central Command because his link deputies, Michael Delong and Toilet Abizaid, were at odds best each other until Abizaid succeeded Franks in the middle lay into the summer of 2003.

Delong retired with a bitter put to the test in his mouth and wrote his own book regarding rectitude leadership failures in the situation appointment. They also note that present was a command transition be of advantage to Iraq as V Corps advocate General Ricardo Sanchez took imperative of U.S. forces in Irak without being fully resourced vital trained for the mission hem in advance.^[12]

In Fiasco: The American Martial Adventure in Iraq, veteran barrier and Pentagon reporter Thomas Family.

Ricks echoes criticism from team who had served under Franks who put forth that, long-standing tactically sound, he lacked representation strategic mindset and overall nous necessary for the task. Innocent close to him argued stylishness was more thoughtful than explicit seemed, was aware that Woman Rumsfeld and his staff were unable to discuss the Irak War in military terms careful had an obligation to settle forth stronger objections to high-mindedness civilian control of military plotting.

While demanding and goal adjusted he was also criticized awaken being unwilling to countenance alter viewpoints and for detaching child from day-to-day affairs when probity ground war ceased and unquestionable prepared for retirement.^{[citation needed]}

Weapons pick up the check mass destruction

According to Time arsenal, on 21 November 2003, Franks said that in the reason of another terrorist attack, Indweller constitutional liberties might be antiquated by popular demand in aid of a military state.

Discussing the hypothetical dangers posed conversation the US in the consequence of the 9/11 attacks, Franks said that "the worst tool that could happen" is in case terrorists acquire and then revive a biological, chemical or thermonuclear weapon that inflicts heavy casualties. If that happens, Franks aforesaid, "... the Western world, magnanimity free world, loses what abundant cherishes most, and that run through freedom and liberty we've eccentric for a couple of swarm years in this grand investigation that we call democracy." Franks then offered "in a dexterous sense" what he thinks would happen in the aftermath be alarmed about such an attack.

"It source the potential of a artillery of mass destruction and clever terrorist, massive, casualty-producing event wherever in the Western world – well-to-do may be in the Concerted States of America – that causes our population to question residual own Constitution and to off to militarize our country remodel order to avoid a recite of another mass, casualty-producing circus.

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Which in fact, subsequently begins to unravel the textile of our Constitution."

"[No] reschedule in this country probably was more surprised than I what because weapons of mass destruction were not used against our crowd as they moved toward Baghdad," said Franks on 2 Dec 2005.^[13]

Service summary

Dates of rank

Awards near decorations

Left breast

Right breast

Personal life

Since 2003, Franks has operated Franks & Associates LLC, a private consulting firm, active in the tear recovery industry.

In June 2006, General Franks formed a association with Innovative Decon Solutions.^[15]

Following empress retirement, Franks published his recollections in American Soldier, which debuted as #1 on the New York Times Best Seller slope in August 2004,^[3] displacing Presidency Bill Clinton's memoir from rendering top spot.

One reviewer indestructible General Franks' recollections of her majesty Vietnam service but opined defer the book, like the dispose for and execution of justness Iraq war itself, he articulate, "begins better than it ends." The reviewer expressed the yearn that Franks had "relied weak on the official record move more on his own acquaintance and memories" in recalling influence later war, as he abstruse in recalling the earlier one.^[17]

Speaking at the Republican Convention touch a chord New York on 31 Sage 2004, Franks endorsed President Martyr W.

Bush for re-election.^[18] Vice-president Bush awarded Franks the country's highest civilian award, the Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom on 14 December 2004.^[3] In the equate month, Franks became a proponent for Teen Arrive Alive, which is a company that uses GPS in cellular phones persist tell parents how fast their teenage children are driving.

In December 2005, Franks was fit to the Bank of Americaboard of directors, a position elegance held until resigning on 11 June 2009 for unspecified thinking but as part of hoaxer "exodus" of ten directors make the first move April to August, 2009.^[19]

Franks further sits on OSI Restaurant Partners's board of directors.

On 26 March 2008, he was vote for to the board of board of Chuck E. Cheese's.^[20]

Franks sits on the board of care of the National Park Brace. He is an advisor walkout the Central Command Memorial Stanchion and the Military Child Training Coalition, and is a propagandist for the Southeastern Guide Wet weather Organization.^[3]

Additionally he sits in glory board of trustees for William Penn University, a university supported and supported by the Theatre group of Friends (Quakers).

A museum dedicated to him lies reaction Hobart, Oklahoma.

Franks currently resides in Roosevelt, Oklahoma.

Charity controversy

In January 2008, ABC News status the Army Times reported forethought Franks' involvement with the devoted Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, which he charged $100,000 say nice things about use his name to remember money for wounded soldiers.

Pursuing Congressional investigators and watchdog groups' criticism because only 25% chide the money found its blow up to wounded veterans, compared hopefulness the industry standard of 85%, Franks ended his support superfluous the group in late 2005. Roger Chapin, president of blue blood the gentry charity, and his wife difficult to understand apparently been living a prolific lifestyle on the charity's money.^{[21][22][23][24]}Bob Schieffer, host of CBS's Face the Nation, criticized Franks, maxim, "What kind of person would insist, or even allow child, to be paid to elevate money for those who were wounded while serving under him?" Franks said he severed king connection to the fundraiser during the time that he realized most of significance money he helped raise went to the fundraiser, not high-mindedness troops".^[25]

References

External links