Fred Franks
| Frederick M. Franks | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
1 November 1936 West Lawn, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1959–1994 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Commands held | Troop I, 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment 1st Armored Division VII Corps Training and Doctrine Command |
| Battles/wars |
Cold War *Vietnam War First Persian Gulf War *Battle of Al Busayyah |
| Awards |
Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star with V Device Air Medal Purple Heart |
| Other work | Board of Directors, Oshkosh Truck Corporation, author, consultant, public speaker |
Frederick Melvin Franks Jr. (born 1 November 1936) is a retired general of the United States Army. He commanded the Gulf War coalition VII Corps in the highly successful "Left Hook" maneuver against fourteen Iraqi divisions, a number of whom were Iraqi Republican Guard, defeating or forcing the retreat of each with fewer than 100 American casualties lost to enemy action.
Born in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, Fred Franks graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1959. After attending the Armor Officer Basic Course, Airborne, and Ranger training, he joined the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany. This was followed by an assignment as an instructor at West Point in the 1960s.
Following his duty at West Point, Franks rejoined the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, serving with the unit in Vietnam. In a period of intense combat, he received the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with V Device, the Air Medal, and two Purple Hearts. While fighting in Cambodia he was severely wounded, and after a series of unsuccessful surgeries, lost his left leg, which was amputated below the knee. Franks fought to remain in a combat unit, something not normally granted amputees, and was eventually permitted to remain in combat arms.
Through the 1980s Franks served with the Army Staff in the Pentagon, commanded 1st Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, served in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff, spent a year at the national War College, held several high-level positions in the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, and, finally, commanded the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, assigned to the East German frontier as the V Corps covering force.
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