Robert Frederick Froehlke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Froehlke
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 10th United States Secretary of the Army | |
| In office July 1, 1971 – May 14, 1973 |
|
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Stanley R. Resor |
| Succeeded by | Bo Callaway |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Frederick Froehlke
October 15, 1922 Neenah, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | February 12, 2016 (aged 93) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Nancy Barnes
(m. 1949) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943-1946 |
| Rank | Captain |
Robert Frederick Froehlke (October 15, 1922 – February 12, 2016) was an important American who worked as a businessman, lawyer, and government official. He was best known for being the Secretary of the Army from 1971 to 1973.
Contents
Robert Froehlke's Early Life
Robert Froehlke was born in Neenah, Wisconsin on October 15, 1922. He finished high school in Marshfield. From 1940 to 1943, he studied at the University of Wisconsin.
In 1943, he joined the United States Army. He served in Europe at an Infantry Replacement Center. He became a captain before leaving the Army in 1946.
Education and Law Career
After World War II, Froehlke went to the University of Wisconsin Law School. He graduated in 1949 and became a lawyer. He worked in Madison, Wisconsin at a law firm. He also taught at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Working in Government
In 1951, Froehlke started working for the Sentry Insurance Company. He later became an important leader there. He was a long-time friend of Melvin R. Laird. Froehlke helped manage Laird's campaigns for Congress.
When Laird became the Secretary of Defense, Froehlke was chosen for a role too. He became the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Administration. He worked in this role until 1971. During this time, he was in charge of all intelligence resources for the Department of Defense. He also led the Defense Investigative Review Council.
Secretary of the Army Role
Froehlke became the Secretary of the Army in July 1971. He served in this important position until May 1973. During his time, the Army made big changes.
- The last American troops left Vietnam.
- The Army changed from using a draft to an all-volunteer force. This meant people chose to join the Army instead of being required to.
- The U.S. Army stopped managing the Ryukyu Islands.
- U.S. biological warfare facilities were closed. This was done to follow international agreements.
As Secretary of the Army, Froehlke also helped correct a past wrong. He changed the dishonorable discharges of African-American soldiers. These soldiers had been wrongly accused of crimes in the 1906 Brownsville Affair. Their discharges were changed to honorable.
Later Life and Retirement
After leaving his role as Secretary of the Army, Froehlke returned to Sentry Insurance. He was the company's president until 1976. He then became president of the Health Insurance Association of America.
Later, he led the American Council of Life Insurers until 1982. He then became chairman of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. He worked there until 1987. After that, he became president and CEO of the IDS Mutual Fund Group.
Froehlke retired in 1993. He lived in Minneapolis and helped raise money for good causes. He worked with Donna Shalala, who was the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. They led the school's first big fundraising effort. He had a summer home in Waupaca, Wisconsin. Later, he moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. Robert Froehlke passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, on February 12, 2016. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
