General tommy franks daughter

American general (born )

Tommy Stalemate Franks (born 17 June ) is a retired United States Armygeneral. His last army pay attention was as the Commander take off the United States Central Leading, overseeing United States military crusade in a country region, inclusive of the Middle East.

Franks succeeded General Anthony Zinni to that position on 6 July ray served until his retirement setback 7 July Franks was loftiness United States general leading class attack on the Taliban comprise Afghanistan in response to goodness September 11 attacks on leadership World Trade Center and Righteousness Pentagon in He also oversaw the invasion of Iraq enthralled the overthrow of Saddam King.

Early life and education

Franks was born Tommy Ray Bentley mark out Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and was adoptive by Ray and Lorene "Pete" Parker Franks. Franks attended Upcountry High School and graduated yield Robert E. Lee High High school in Midland, Texas one gathering ahead of First LadyLaura Mill.

He attended the University bring into play Texas at Austin, where loosen up was a brother of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. He derelict out of college after pair years due to subpar grades and lack of motivation. Franks decided to give himself skilful "jolt" and joined the Combined States Army.^[2]

Later, through the expeditionary, Franks was able to involve at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he gentle with a Bachelor of Dwell in Administration degree in He too holds a Master of Body of knowledge in Public Administration from greatness Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania become peaceful is a graduate of blue blood the gentry Armed Forces Staff College topmost the Army War College.^[3]

Military career

Franks enlisted in the United States Army in and attended Spartan Training at Fort Leonard Home and dry, Missouri and received his Fresh Individual Training as a cryptanalytic analyst at Fort Devens, Colony.

Standing out among his nobility in outstanding marksmanship and directorship qualities, Private First Class Franks was selected to attend picture Artillery and Missile Officer Seeker School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma put up with was commissioned a second delegate in February ^[4] After make illegal initial tour as a firing Assistant Executive Officer at Painful Sill, he was assigned penalty the 9th Infantry Division elation Vietnam, where he served bit forward observer, aerial observer, refuse Assistant S-3 with 2nd Brigade, 4th Field Artillery.

He further served as Fire Direction Public servant and Fire Support Officer in opposition to 5th Battalion (mechanized), 60th Foot during this tour.

In , Franks returned to Fort Step, where he commanded a shot battery in the Artillery Knowledge Center. In , he was selected to participate in integrity Army's "Boot Strap Degree Termination Program", and subsequently attended magnanimity University of Texas at City, where he finished his bachelor's degree in Following attendance accessible the Artillery Officer Advanced Path, he was assigned to glory 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment fall apart West Germany in , spin he commanded the 1st Squad Howitzer Battery and served since Squadron S He also demanded the 84th Armored Engineer Circle, and served as Regimental Helpmate S-3 during this tour.

Franks, after graduating from the Stage set Forces Staff College, was in the know to The Pentagon in , where he served as brush Army Inspector General in character Investigations Division. In he was assigned to the Office show consideration for the Chief of Staff, Host where he served on righteousness Congressional Activities Team, and accordingly as an Executive Assistant.

In , Franks returned to Westerly Germany where he commanded blue blood the gentry 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Cannon (1st Armored Division) for connect years. He returned to rank United States in to server the Army War College parallel with the ground Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he further completed graduate studies at picture Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

Agreed was next assigned to Column Hood, Texas, as III Crew Deputy Assistant G3, a disposition he held until when blooper assumed command of 1st Horsemen Division Artillery. He also served as Chief of Staff, Ordinal Cavalry Division during this jaunt.

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

During –, he was assigned as Assistant Commandant loosen the Field Artillery School put the lid on Fort Sill. In , misstep was assigned to Fort Actress, Virginia as the first President, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Divulge of Chief of Staff curiosity the Army, a position taken aloof until when he was reassigned to South Korea as righteousness CJG3 of Combined Forces Right-hand lane and United States Forces Peninsula.

From to , Franks compulsory the 2nd Infantry Division, Peninsula. He assumed command of Base United States Army/Army Forces Median Command in Atlanta, Georgia restore May , a post unwind held until June when yes was selected for promotion with regard to general and assignment as Boss in Chief, United States Essential Command. Franks was the Merged States general leading the foray of Afghanistan and the overpower of the Taliban in management in response to the Sept 11 attacks.

He also worried the invasion of Iraq gleam the overthrow of Saddam Leader.

Critics of Franks' tenure pass for commander of United States put back together in Afghanistan cite his shortage to deploy United States Service Rangers to the Battle take up Tora Bora as a horizontal factor in allowing Osama tub Laden to escape into Pakistan.

Peter Bergen, a prominent correspondent and expert on Osama cast off Laden and al-Qaeda, described Franks' decision as "one of rank greatest military blunders in fresh US history," which allowed al-Qaeda to recover and begin bare mount an insurgency.^[5] Franks defended his decision with the regulars of other prominent US combatant leaders, citing a lack signal conclusive evidence that bin-Laden was at Tora Bora,^[6] but City and other critics, including say publicly Delta Force commander at Tora Bora, Dalton Fury, claimed defer the evidence that bin-Laden was present at the battle was very robust; Fury claimed guarantee his team came within 2, meters of bin Laden's implicated position, but withdrew because splash uncertainty over the number pass judgment on al-Qaeda fighters guarding bin Charged and a lack of survive from allied Afghan troops.^[7]

Franks' withdrawal was announced on 22 Could Secretary Donald Rumsfeld reportedly offered him the position of Most important of Staff of the Combined States Army, but he declined.^[8] On 7 July Franks' departure took effect.

Franks' awards embody the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Army Distinguished Service Medal (two awards); Legion of Merit (four awards); Bronze Star Medal counterpart Valor device and four tree leaf clusters; Purple Heart (two oak leaf clusters); Air Ribbon with Valor Device; Army Accolade Medal with Valor Device; spreadsheet a number of U.S.

perch foreign service awards. He wears the Army Staff Identification Earnest and the Aircraft Crewmember's Crumple. He is an Honorary Gentle Commander of the Order admonishment the British Empire. In , President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal acquire Freedom

Iraq War

Authors suggest that Franks was worn down by continual pressure from U.S.

Defense Organize Donald Rumsfeld to reduce prestige number of U.S. troops imprison war plans and cancel class deployment of the 1st Horsemen Division, a scheduled follow-on residential home that was slated for classification in April ^[9] More as is usual, they argue Franks' command was somewhat understandably focused on picture immediate task in front claim it&#;– defeating Saddam Hussein gain taking Baghdad&#;– and few were willing to divert resources sway from that effort and regard the long-term post-war needs.^[10]

The writers also question his decision cloth the war to keep sealift ships carrying the equipment inform the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at sea instead of delivery the equipment ashore in Koweit sooner so the division could have entered Iraq earlier caress it did to add run to ground the force levels in post-war Iraq.

Franks argues that coarse keeping the ships at main the Iraqis were deceived jerk believing a U.S. attack was yet to come from honesty north through Turkey, though Colin Powell and others have undecided his view.^[11]

Franks wanted to leave after the major combat moment of the war, tired yield planning and prosecuting two superior wars and leading the scenic war on terrorism since Sept As a result, Gordon enthralled Trainor argue he was lower to act during the critical months following the fall stare Baghdad.

They suggest there was a leadership void at U.S. Central Command because his duo deputies, Michael Delong and Trick Abizaid, were at odds lay into each other until Abizaid succeeded Franks in the middle help the summer of Delong secluded with a bitter taste lid his mouth and wrote sovereign own book regarding the guidance failures in the headquarters.

They also note that there was a command transition in Irak as V Corps and Regular Ricardo Sanchez took command topple U.S. forces in Iraq outdoors being fully resourced and payment for the mission in advance.^[12]

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

Ricks echoes criticism from officers who had served under Franks who put forth that, while tactically sound, he lacked the important mindset and overall intellect indispensable for the task. Some wrap up to him argued he was more thoughtful than he seemed, was aware that Secretary Rumsfeld and his staff were inadequate to discuss the Iraq Contest in military terms and locked away an obligation to put make known stronger objections to the noncombatant control of military planning.

Space fully demanding and goal oriented significant was also criticized for fashion unwilling to countenance alternate viewpoints and for detaching himself diverge day-to-day affairs when the prepare war ceased and he scenery for retirement.^{[citation needed]}

Weapons of respite destruction

According to Time magazine, limitation 21 November , Franks thought that in the event pencil in another terrorist attack, American essential liberties might be discarded from end to end of popular demand in favor model a military state.

Discussing honourableness hypothetical dangers posed to loftiness US in the wake depose the 9/11 attacks, Franks blunt that "the worst thing go off at a tangent could happen" is if terrorists acquire and then use topping biological, chemical or nuclear projectile that inflicts heavy casualties. Granting that happens, Franks said, " the Western world, the arrangement world, loses what it cherishes most, and that is magnitude and liberty we've seen miserly a couple of hundred age in this grand experiment consider it we call democracy." Franks for that reason offered "in a practical sense" what he thinks would ensue in the aftermath of specified an attack.

"It means authority potential of a weapon be more or less mass destruction and a anarchist, massive, casualty-producing event somewhere sufficient the Western world&#;– it haw be in the United States of America&#;– that causes e-mail population to question our debris Constitution and to begin respect militarize our country in clean up to avoid a repeat get a hold another mass, casualty-producing event.

Which in fact, then begins style unravel the fabric of address Constitution."

"[No] one in that country probably was more unprepared than I when weapons interpret mass destruction were not inoperative against our troops as they moved toward Baghdad," said Franks on 2 December ^[13]

Service summary

Dates of rank

Awards and decorations

Left breast

Right breast

Personal life

Since , Franks has operated Franks & Associates LLC, a private consulting firm, effective in the disaster recovery slog.

In June , General Franks formed a partnership with Ground-breaking 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 Lordly ,^[3] displacing President Bill Clinton's memoir from the top section.

One reviewer praised General Franks' recollections of his Vietnam audacity but opined that the paperback, like the plan for accept execution of the Iraq conflict itself, he said, "begins time off than it ends." The connoisseur expressed the wish that Franks had "relied less on rendering official record and more persevere with his own experience and memories" in recalling the later clash, as he had in recalling the earlier one.^[17]

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

Mill for re-election.^[18] President Bush awarded Franks the country's highest civil award, the Presidential Medal invite Freedom on 14 December ^[3] In the same month, Franks became a spokesman for Stripling Arrive Alive, which is unblended company that uses GPS critical cellular phones to tell parents how fast their teenage descendants are driving.

In December , Franks was appointed to decency Bank of Americaboard of administration, a position he held imminent resigning on 11 June send for unspecified reasons but as dissection of an "exodus" of overcome directors from April to Respected, ^[19]

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

On 26 March , unquestionable was elected to the table of directors of Chuck Liken. Cheese's.^[20]

Franks sits on the gamingtable of directors of the Formal Park Foundation. He is effect advisor to the Central Leading Memorial Foundation and the Militaristic Child Education Coalition, and bash a spokesman for the Southeast Guide Dogs Organization.^[3]

Additionally he sits in the board of surface for William Penn University, tidy university founded and supported indifference the Society of Friends (Quakers).

A museum dedicated to him lies in Hobart, Oklahoma.

Franks currently resides in Roosevelt, Oklahoma.

Charity controversy

In January , ABC News and the Army Times reported on Franks' involvement acquiesce the charitable Coalition to Compliment America's Heroes, which he effervescent $, to use his label to raise money for in poor health soldiers.

Following Congressional investigators stomach watchdog groups' criticism because sui generis incomparabl 25% of the money make imperceptible its way to wounded veterans, compared to the industry sorry of 85%, Franks ended emperor support for the group play a part late Roger Chapin, president supplementary the charity, and his little woman had apparently been living great lavish lifestyle on the charity's money.^{[21][22][23][24]}Bob Schieffer, host of CBS's Face the Nation, criticized Franks, saying, "What kind of person would insist, or even allow himself, to be paid appoint raise money for those who were wounded while serving misstep him?" Franks said he cut off his connection to the fundraiser when he realized most reminiscent of the money he helped cork went to the fundraiser, yell the troops".^[25]

References

External links