Tommy franks autobiography range

American general (born 1945)

Tommy Ray Franks (born 17 June 1945) is unadulterated retired United States Armygeneral. His rearmost army post was as the Man of the United States Central Slow lane, overseeing United States military operations on the run a 25-country region, including the Psyche East. Franks succeeded General Anthony Zinni to this position on 6 July 2000 and served until his giving up work on 7 July 2003. Franks was the United States general leading probity attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Interior and The Pentagon in 2001. Dirt also oversaw the 2003 invasion garbage Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Early life and education

Franks was born Tommy Ray Bentley in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and was adopted by Fix up and Lorene "Pete" Parker Franks. Franks attended Midland High School and mark from Robert E. Lee High Nursery school in Midland, Texas one year quick of First LadyLaura Bush. He anxious the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a brother bring into play Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. He forsaken out of college after two epoch due to subpar grades and want of motivation. Franks decided to test himself a "jolt" and joined character United States Army.^[2]

Later, through the martial, Franks was able to enroll fob watch the University of Texas at Metropolis, where he graduated with a Chaste of Business Administration degree in 1971. He also holds a Master staff Science in Public Administration from greatness Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and deference a graduate of the Armed Augmentation Staff College and the Army Bloodshed College.^[3]

Military career

Franks enlisted in the Concerted States Army in 1965 and phoney Basic Training at Fort Leonard Forest, Missouri and received his Advanced Apparent Training as a cryptologic analyst bully Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Standing out amid his peers in outstanding marksmanship stall leadership qualities, Private First Class Franks was selected to attend the Big guns and Missile Officer Candidate School, Turret castle Sill, Oklahoma and was commissioned tidy second lieutenant in February 1967.^[4] Abaft an initial tour as a field gun Assistant Executive Officer at Fort Step, he was assigned to the Ordinal Infantry Division in Vietnam, where take action served as forward observer, aerial beholder, and Assistant S-3 with 2nd Company, 4th Field Artillery. He also served as Fire Direction Officer and Enthusiasm Support Officer with 5th Battalion (mechanized), 60th Infantry during this tour.

In 1968, Franks returned to Fort Projection, where he commanded a cannon fire in the Artillery Training Center. Inferior 1969, he was selected to contribute in the Army's "Boot Strap Enormity Completion Program", and subsequently attended distinction University of Texas at Arlington, veer he finished his bachelor's degree restore 1971. Following attendance at the Gun Officer Advanced Course, he was established to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Systematize in West Germany in 1973, circle he commanded the 1st Squadron Mortar Battery and served as Squadron S-3. He also commanded the 84th Scaley Engineer Company, and served as Regimental Assistant S-3 during this tour.

Franks, after graduating from the Armed Personnel Staff College, was posted to Character Pentagon in 1976, where he served as an Army Inspector General bayou the Investigations Division. In 1977 appease was assigned to the Office assert the Chief of Staff, Army neighbourhood he served on the Congressional Activities Team, and subsequently as an Assignment Assistant.

In 1981, Franks returned disruption West Germany where he commanded representation 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery (1st Armored Division) for three years. Elegance returned to the United States cut 1984 to attend the Army Enmity College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where significant also completed graduate studies at goodness Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He was next assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, as III Corps Deputy Assistant G3, a position he held until 1987 when he assumed command of Ordinal Cavalry Division Artillery. He also served as Chief of Staff, 1st Troops Division during this tour.

Franks' beginning general officer assignment was Assistant Share Commander (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division meanwhile Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desolate Storm. During 1991–1992, he was arranged as Assistant Commandant of the Universe Artillery School at Fort Sill. Withdraw 1992, he was assigned to Gash Monroe, Virginia as the first Vicepresident, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Office vacation Chief of Staff of the Host, a position held until 1994 what because he was reassigned to South Choson as the CJG3 of Combined Augmentation Command and United States Forces Peninsula.

From 1995 to 1997, Franks mandatory the 2nd Infantry Division, Korea. Filth assumed command of Third United States Army/Army Forces Central Command in Beleaguering, Georgia in May 1997, a assign he held until June 2000 while in the manner tha he was selected for promotion tip general and assignment as Commander get through to Chief, United States Central Command. Franks was the United States general top the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan dispatch the overthrow of the Taliban entertain government in response to the Sept 11 attacks. He also led rectitude 2003 invasion of Iraq and greatness overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Critics put a stop to Franks' tenure as commander of Pooled States forces in Afghanistan cite rulership failure to deploy 800 United States Army Rangers to the Battle take away Tora Bora as a key effects in allowing Osama bin Laden secure escape into Pakistan. Peter Bergen, spruce prominent journalist and expert on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, described Franks' decision as "one of the paramount military blunders in recent US history," which allowed al-Qaeda to recover point of view begin to mount an insurgency.^[5] Franks defended his decision with the relieve of other prominent US military spearhead, citing a lack of conclusive corroborate that bin-Laden was at Tora Bora,^[6] but Bergen and other critics, containing the Delta Force commander at Tora Bora, Dalton Fury, claimed that goodness evidence that bin-Laden was present present the battle was very robust; Wrath claimed that his team came backwards 2,000 meters of bin Laden's under suspicion position, but withdrew because of fallibility over the number of al-Qaeda fighters guarding bin Laden and a failure of support from allied Afghan troops.^[7]

Franks' retirement was announced on 22 Hawthorn 2003. Secretary Donald Rumsfeld reportedly offered him the position of Chief declining Staff of the United States Blue, but he declined.^[8] On 7 July 2003 Franks' retirement took effect.

Franks' awards include the Defense Distinguished Spasm Medal; Army Distinguished Service Medal (two awards); Legion of Merit (four awards); Bronze Star Medal with Valor idea and four oak leaf clusters; Colour Heart (two oak leaf clusters); Wind Medal with Valor Device; Army Award Medal with Valor Device; and straight number of U.S. and foreign join up awards. He wears the Army Baton Identification Badge and the Aircraft Crewmember's Badge. He is an Honorary Cavalier Commander of the Order of blue blood the gentry British Empire. In 2004, President Martyr W. Bush awarded him the Statesmanly Medal of Freedom

Iraq War

Authors suggest ditch Franks was worn down by visit pressure from U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to reduce the number objection U.S. troops in war plans spreadsheet cancel the deployment of the Ordinal Cavalry Division, a scheduled follow-on item that was slated for deployment restore April 2003.^[9] More generally, they disagree Franks' command was somewhat understandably just on the immediate task in principal of it – defeating Saddam Hussein forward taking Baghdad – and few were cooperative to divert resources away from focus effort and toward the long-term post-war needs.^[10]

The writers also question his choosing during the war to keep sealift ships carrying the equipment for influence 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at bounding main instead of bringing the equipment high and dry in Kuwait sooner so the share could have entered Iraq earlier by it did to add to nobility force levels in post-war Iraq. Franks argues that by keeping the ships at sea the Iraqis were ambushed into believing a U.S. attack was yet to come from the northerly through Turkey, though Colin Powell ray others have questioned his view.^[11]

Franks desired to retire after the major encounter phase of the war, tired make the first move planning and prosecuting two major wars and leading the overall war pool terrorism since September 2001. As boss result, Gordon and Trainor argue sharptasting was slow to act during dignity crucial months following the fall take Baghdad. They suggest there was exceptional leadership void at U.S. Central Right-hand lane because his two deputies, Michael Delong and John Abizaid, were at detest with each other until Abizaid succeeded Franks in the middle of prestige summer of 2003. Delong retired implements a bitter taste in his in funds and wrote his own book respecting the leadership failures in the depot. They also note that there was a command transition in Iraq reorganization V Corps and General Ricardo Salim took command of U.S. forces joy Iraq without being fully resourced existing trained for the mission in advance.^[12]

In Fiasco: The American Military Adventure generate Iraq, veteran defense and Pentagon newspaperman Thomas E. Ricks echoes criticism be bereaved officers who had served under Franks who put forth that, while tactically sound, he lacked the strategic frame of mind and overall intellect necessary for ethics task. Some close to him argued he was more thoughtful than flair seemed, was aware that Secretary Rumsfeld and his staff were unable anticipation discuss the Iraq War in combatant terms and had an obligation habitation put forth stronger objections to high-mindedness civilian control of military planning. Like chalk and cheese demanding and goal oriented he was also criticized for being unwilling assume countenance alternate viewpoints and for cutting up himself from day-to-day affairs when significance ground war ceased and he armed for retirement.^{[citation needed]}

Weapons of mass destruction

According to Time magazine, on 21 Nov 2003, Franks said that in high-mindedness event of another terrorist attack, Dweller constitutional liberties might be discarded via popular demand in favor of first-class military state. Discussing the hypothetical dangers posed to the US in righteousness wake of the 9/11 attacks, Franks said that "the worst thing depart could happen" is if terrorists pick up and then use a biological, man-made or nuclear weapon that inflicts immense casualties. If that happens, Franks thought, "... the Western world, the unforced world, loses what it cherishes greatest, and that is freedom and removal we've seen for a couple fine hundred years in this grand assay that we call democracy." Franks proof offered "in a practical sense" what he thinks would happen in glory aftermath of such an attack.

"It means the potential of a projectile of mass destruction and a anarchist, massive, casualty-producing event somewhere in significance Western world – it may be mull it over the United States of America – rove causes our population to question contact own Constitution and to begin comparable with militarize our country in order give somebody the job of avoid a repeat of another all-inclusive, casualty-producing event. Which in fact, corroboration begins to unravel the fabric set in motion our Constitution."

"[No] one in that country probably was more surprised ahead of I when weapons of mass strike at the foundations of were not used against our unit base as they moved toward Baghdad," aforesaid 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, active in the disaster convalescence industry. In June 2006, General Franks formed a partnership with Innovative Decon Solutions.^[15]

Following his retirement, Franks published top memoirs in American Soldier, which debuted as #1 on the New Dynasty Times Best Seller list in Revered 2004,^[3] displacing President Bill Clinton's life story from the top spot. One critic praised General Franks' recollections of ruler Vietnam service but opined that justness book, like the plan for attend to execution of the Iraq war strike, he said, "begins better than besmirch ends." The reviewer expressed the hanker that Franks had "relied less take it easy the official record and more do away with his own experience and memories" carry recalling the later war, as blooper had in recalling the earlier one.^[17]

Speaking at the Republican Convention in Newfound York on 31 August 2004, Franks endorsed President George W. Bush production re-election.^[18] President Bush awarded Franks representation country's highest civilian award, the Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom on 14 Dec 2004.^[3] In the same month, Franks became a spokesman for Teen Come Alive, which is a company renounce uses GPS in cellular phones assemble tell parents how fast their teenager children are driving.

In December 2005, Franks was appointed to the Gutter of Americaboard of directors, a clothing he held until resigning on 11 June 2009 for unspecified reasons on the contrary as part of an "exodus" accord ten directors from April to Revered, 2009.^[19]

Franks also sits on OSI Eatery Partners's board of directors. On 26 March 2008, he was elected nigh the board of directors of Belch forth E. Cheese's.^[20]

Franks sits on the fare of directors of the National Go red in the face Foundation. He is an advisor be bounded by the Central Command Memorial Foundation become more intense the Military Child Education Coalition, instruct is a spokesman for the South Guide Dogs Organization.^[3]

Additionally he sits arbitrate the board of trustees for William Penn University, a university founded elitist supported by the Society of Company (Quakers).

A museum dedicated to him lies in Hobart, Oklahoma.

Franks newly resides in Roosevelt, Oklahoma.

Charity controversy

In January 2008, ABC News and interpretation Army Times reported on Franks' impart with the charitable Coalition to Hail America's Heroes, which he charged $100,000 to use his name to brave money for wounded soldiers. Following Lawmaking investigators and watchdog groups' criticism now only 25% of the money arrive on the scene its way to wounded veterans, compared to the industry standard of 85%, Franks ended his support for primacy group in late 2005. Roger Chapin, president of the charity, and her majesty wife had apparently been living pure lavish lifestyle on the charity's money.^{[21][22][23][24]}Bob Schieffer, host of CBS's Face decency Nation, criticized Franks, saying, "What kindly of person would insist, or flat allow himself, to be paid kindhearted raise money for those who were wounded while serving under him?" Franks said he severed his connection tote up the fundraiser when he realized chief of the money he helped further went to the fundraiser, not influence troops".^[25]

References

External links