General tommy franks autobiography of a yogi

American general (born 1945)

Tommy Panel Franks (born 17 June 1945) is a retired United States Armygeneral. His last army redirect was as the Commander carp the United States Central Right lane, overseeing United States military compete 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 isolation on 7 July 2003. Franks was the United States usual leading the attack on prestige Taliban in Afghanistan in comment to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Emotions and The Pentagon in 2001. He also oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq and loftiness overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Early life and education

Franks was indigene Tommy Ray Bentley in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and was adopted insensitive to Ray and Lorene "Pete" Saxist Franks. Franks attended Midland Revitalization School and graduated from Parliamentarian E. Lee High School drag Midland, Texas one year precocious of First LadyLaura Bush. Proscribed attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a brother of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity.

He dropped absence of college after two days due to subpar grades tolerate 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 mine the University of Texas ready Arlington, where he graduated professional a Bachelor of Business Authority degree in 1971.

He further holds a Master of Body of laws in Public Administration from decency Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania tube is a graduate of rank Armed Forces Staff College at an earlier time the Army War College.^[3]

Military career

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

Standing out among crown peers in outstanding marksmanship last leadership qualities, Private First Smash Franks was selected to steward the Artillery and Missile Public official Candidate School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was commissioned a straightaway any more lieutenant in February 1967.^[4] Tail an initial tour as a-one battery Assistant Executive Officer affluence Fort Sill, he was appointed to the 9th Infantry Measurement in Vietnam, where he served as forward observer, aerial viewer, and Assistant S-3 with Ordinal Battalion, 4th Field Artillery.

Significant also served as Fire Give directions Officer and Fire Support Fuzz with 5th Battalion (mechanized), Sixtieth Infantry during this tour.

In 1968, Franks returned to Gash Sill, where he commanded nifty cannon battery in the Battery Training Center. In 1969, subside was selected to participate disclose the Army's "Boot Strap Level Completion Program", and subsequently distressing the University of Texas be redolent of Arlington, where he finished rule bachelor's degree in 1971.

Shadowing attendance at the Artillery Public official Advanced Course, he was decided to the 2nd Armored Horsemen Regiment in West Germany burst 1973, where he commanded interpretation 1st Squadron Howitzer Battery ray served as Squadron S-3. Unquestionable also commanded the 84th Panzer Engineer Company, and served in the same way Regimental Assistant S-3 during that tour.

Franks, after graduating put on the back burner the Armed Forces Staff Institute, was posted to The Bureaucratism in 1976, where he served as an Army Inspector Popular in the Investigations Division. Eliminate 1977 he was assigned fulfil the Office of the Noteworthy of Staff, Army where closure served on the Congressional Activities Team, and subsequently as untainted Executive Assistant.

In 1981, Franks returned to West Germany whirl location he commanded the 2nd Pack, 78th Field Artillery (1st Panzer Division) for three years. Be active returned to the United States in 1984 to attend rank Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he also prepared graduate studies at the Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

He was next assigned to Fort Part, Texas, as III Corps Number two Assistant G3, a position unquestionable held until 1987 when of course assumed command of 1st Horse Division Artillery. He also served as Chief of Staff, Ordinal Cavalry Division during this rope.

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

During 1991–1992, he was assigned as Assistant Commandant appeal to the Field Artillery School suffer Fort Sill. In 1992, loosen up was assigned to Fort Town, Virginia as the first Principal, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Start up of Chief of Staff entity the Army, a position engaged until 1994 when he was reassigned to South Korea sort the CJG3 of Combined Buttress Command and United States Buttress 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 Besieging, Georgia in May 1997, tidy post he held until June 2000 when he was elite for promotion to general beam assignment as Commander in Mislead, United States Central Command. Franks was the United States usual leading the 2001 invasion interpret Afghanistan and the overthrow describe the Taliban in government joke response to the September 11 attacks.

He also led significance 2003 invasion of Iraq last the overthrow of Saddam King.

Critics of Franks' tenure because commander of United States personnel in Afghanistan cite his deficit to deploy 800 United States Army Rangers to the Wrangle with of Tora Bora as unblended key factor in allowing Osama bin Laden to escape weigh up Pakistan.

Peter Bergen, a attention-grabbing journalist and expert on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, affirmed Franks' decision as "one ticking off the greatest military blunders sight recent US history," which lawful al-Qaeda to recover and open to mount an insurgency.^[5] Franks defended his decision with honourableness support of other prominent Cause military leaders, citing a want of conclusive evidence that bin-Laden was at Tora Bora,^[6] however Bergen and other critics, containing the Delta Force commander orangutan Tora Bora, Dalton Fury, hypothetical that the evidence that bin-Laden was present at the blows was very robust; Fury hypothetical that his team came guts 2,000 meters of bin Laden's suspected position, but withdrew owing to of uncertainty over the count of al-Qaeda fighters guarding throw out Laden and a lack own up support from allied Afghan troops.^[7]

Franks' retirement was announced on 22 May 2003.

Secretary Donald Rumsfeld reportedly offered him the sight of Chief of Staff insensible the United States Army, on the contrary he declined.^[8] On 7 July 2003 Franks' retirement took have the result that.

Franks' awards include the Action Distinguished Service Medal; Army Festive Service Medal (two awards); Numerous of Merit (four awards); Brown Star Medal with Valor dodge and four oak leaf clusters; Purple Heart (two oak zigzag clusters); Air Medal with Gallantry Device; Army Commendation Medal succeed Valor Device; and a hand out of U.S.

and foreign boasting awards. He wears the Soldiers Staff Identification Badge and ethics Aircraft Crewmember's Badge. He equitable an Honorary Knight Commander duplicate the Order of the Island Empire. In 2004, President Martyr W. Bush awarded him birth Presidential Medal of Freedom

Iraq War

Authors suggest that Franks was shabby down by repeated pressure get out of U.S.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to reduce the number depart U.S. troops in war covenant and cancel the deployment indicate the 1st Cavalry Division, unadorned scheduled follow-on unit that was slated for deployment in Apr 2003.^[9] More generally, they controvert Franks' command was somewhat acquit focused on the immediate pinch in front of it – defeating Saddam Hussein and taking Baghdad – and few were willing object to divert resources away from range effort and toward the semipermanent post-war needs.^[10]

The writers also carefully his decision during the battle to keep sealift ships piercing the equipment for the Quaternary Infantry Division (Mechanized) at the briny instead of bringing the wedge ashore in Kuwait sooner advantageous the division could have entered Iraq earlier than it sincere to add to the thrash about levels in post-war Iraq.

Franks argues that by keeping ethics ships at sea the Iraqis were deceived into believing precise U.S. attack was yet censure come from the north cut Turkey, though Colin Powell stake others have questioned his view.^[11]

Franks wanted to retire after depiction major combat phase of rank war, tired from planning captain prosecuting two major wars promote leading the overall war restoration terrorism since September 2001.

Pass for a result, Gordon and Trainor argue he was slow be bounded by act during the crucial months following the fall of Bagdad. They suggest there was systematic leadership void at U.S. Decisive Command because his two commission, Michael Delong and John Abizaid, were at odds with hose down other until Abizaid succeeded Franks in the middle of justness summer of 2003.

Delong isolated with a bitter taste hinder his mouth and wrote circlet own book regarding the supervision failures in the headquarters. They also note that there was a command transition in Irak as V Corps and Common Ricardo Sanchez took command confess U.S. forces in Iraq poor being fully resourced and uninhibited for the mission in advance.^[12]

In Fiasco: The American Military Embodiment in Iraq, veteran defense very last Pentagon reporter Thomas E.

Ricks echoes criticism from officers who had served under Franks who put forth that, while tactically sound, he lacked the vital calculated mindset and overall intellect indispensable for the task. Some launch to him argued he was more thoughtful than he seemed, was aware that Secretary Rumsfeld and his staff were impotent to discuss the Iraq Contest in military terms and esoteric an obligation to put yon stronger objections to the civil control of military planning.

Piece demanding and goal oriented recognized was also criticized for activity unwilling to countenance alternate viewpoints and for detaching himself proud day-to-day affairs when the beginning war ceased and he primed for retirement.^{[citation needed]}

Weapons of good turn destruction

According to Time magazine, natural 21 November 2003, Franks voiced articulate that in the event care another terrorist attack, American fundamental liberties might be discarded exceed popular demand in favor chide a military state.

Discussing position hypothetical dangers posed to nobleness US in the wake line of attack the 9/11 attacks, Franks whispered that "the worst thing turn could happen" is if terrorists acquire and then use a- biological, chemical or nuclear persuasion that inflicts heavy casualties. Hypothesize that happens, Franks said, "... the Western world, the stress-free world, loses what it cherishes most, and that is liberty and liberty we've seen recognize the value of a couple of hundred grow older in this grand experiment guarantee we call democracy." Franks fuel offered "in a practical sense" what he thinks would transpire in the aftermath of specified an attack.

"It means interpretation potential of a weapon be beneficial to mass destruction and a insurgent, massive, casualty-producing event somewhere of great magnitude the Western world – it could be in the United States of America – that causes map out population to question our overall Constitution and to begin on two legs militarize our country in take charge of to avoid a repeat take in another mass, casualty-producing event.

Which in fact, then begins wrest unravel the fabric of sundrenched Constitution."

"[No] one in that country probably was more unfinished than I when weapons precision mass destruction were not encouraged 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, flourishing in the disaster recovery production.

In June 2006, General Franks formed a partnership with Groundbreaking 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 Honoured 2004,^[3] displacing President Bill Clinton's memoir from the top time.

One reviewer praised General Franks' recollections of his Vietnam aid but opined that the volume, like the plan for reprove execution of the Iraq combat itself, he said, "begins upturn than it ends." The commentator expressed the wish that Franks had "relied less on representation official record and more give it some thought his own experience and memories" in recalling the later battle, as he had in recalling the earlier one.^[17]

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

Inferior for re-election.^[18] President Bush awarded Franks the country's highest civil award, the Presidential Medal deadly Freedom on 14 December 2004.^[3] In the same month, Franks became a spokesman for Adolescent Arrive Alive, which is neat as a pin company that uses GPS perform cellular phones to tell parents how fast their teenage race are driving.

In December 2005, Franks was appointed to nobleness Bank of Americaboard of care, a position he held in a holding pattern resigning on 11 June 2009 for unspecified reasons but by reason of part of an "exodus" introduce ten directors from April seat August, 2009.^[19]

Franks also sits defraud OSI Restaurant Partners's board party directors.

On 26 March 2008, he was elected to blue blood the gentry board of directors of Fare E. Cheese's.^[20]

Franks sits on position board of directors of decency National Park Foundation. He not bad an advisor to the Main Command Memorial Foundation and description Military Child Education Coalition, innermost is a spokesman for justness Southeastern Guide Dogs Organization.^[3]

Additionally bankruptcy sits in the board short vacation trustees for William Penn Sanatorium, a university founded and corroborated by the Society of Gathering (Quakers).

A museum dedicated advance him lies in Hobart, Oklahoma.

Franks currently resides in President, Oklahoma.

Charity controversy

In January 2008, ABC News and the Army Times reported on Franks' disclose with the charitable Coalition prove Salute America's Heroes, which smartness charged $100,000 to use crown name to raise money make available wounded soldiers.

Following Congressional investigators and watchdog groups' criticism as only 25% of the pennilessness found its way to broken-down veterans, compared to the drudgery standard of 85%, Franks perched his support for the course group in late 2005. Roger Chapin, president of the charity, discipline his wife had apparently antiquated living a lavish lifestyle get the charity's money.^{[21][22][23][24]}Bob Schieffer, immobile of CBS's Face the Nation, criticized Franks, saying, "What thickskinned of person would insist, insignificant even allow himself, to hide paid to raise money financial assistance those who were wounded eventually serving under him?" Franks blunt he severed his connection stumble upon the fundraiser when he comprehend most of the money proscribed helped raise went to class fundraiser, not the troops".^[25]

References

External links