Tommy Franks facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Tommy Franks
Official portrait, 2000
Birth name	Tommy Ray Bentley
Born	(1945-06-17) 17 June 1945 (age 80) Wynnewood, Oklahoma, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1965–2003
Rank	General
Commands held	United States Central Command Third United States Army 2nd Infantry Division 82nd Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Gulf War War in Afghanistan Operation Crescent Wind Fall of Mazar-i-Sharif Siege of Kunduz Fall of Kabul Herat Uprising Fall of Kandahar Battle of Qala-i-Jangi Battle of Tora Bora Iraq War Karbala Attack (2003) Battle of Baghdad
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal (5) Purple Heart (3) Presidential Medal of Freedom Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom)

Tommy Ray Franks (born 17 June 1945) is a retired United States Army general. He was a very important leader in the U.S. military. His last job was as the Commander of the United States Central Command. In this role, he was in charge of U.S. military actions in a large area, including the Middle East. General Franks took over this position in July 2000 and retired in July 2003.

General Franks led the U.S. military response in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks in 2001. He also oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein from power.

Early Life and Education
Military Career Highlights
- Iraq War Decisions
Personal Life and Later Work
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Tommy Franks was born as Tommy Ray Bentley in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. He was later adopted by Ray and Lorene Franks. He went to high school in Midland, Texas. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School.

After high school, he went to the University of Texas at Austin. He studied there for two years but decided to leave. He wanted a new challenge, so he joined the United States Army. Later, while in the Army, he went back to college. He earned a business degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1971. He also earned a master's degree in public administration.

Military Career Highlights

Franks joined the United States Army in 1965. He trained to be a cryptologic analyst, which means he worked with secret codes. He quickly showed strong leadership skills. In 1967, he became an officer.

He served in the Vietnam War with the 9th Infantry Division. He helped direct artillery fire and supported infantry units. After Vietnam, he continued to serve in various roles. He commanded an artillery battery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

In 1973, he was sent to West Germany. There, he commanded an artillery battery and an engineer company. He also worked at The Pentagon, helping with congressional activities.

In 1981, he returned to West Germany to command an artillery battalion. He later attended the United States Army War College. He then served at Fort Hood, Texas, and commanded the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery.

During Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War, Franks was an Assistant Division Commander. From 1995 to 1997, he commanded the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea.

In 1997, he became the commander of the Third United States Army. In June 2000, he was promoted to general. He then became the Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command.

General Franks led the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. This operation aimed to remove the Taliban government after the September 11 attacks. He also led the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This led to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Some people have discussed General Franks' decisions during the Battle of Tora Bora in Afghanistan. During this battle, Osama bin Laden escaped. Some critics felt that more U.S. troops should have been sent to help capture him. General Franks and other military leaders defended his choices. They said there was not enough clear proof that bin Laden was definitely there. However, others believed the evidence was strong.

General Franks announced his retirement in May 2003. He officially retired on 7 July 2003. He was offered a very high position, Chief of Staff of the Army, but he chose to retire.

His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. He also received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. In 2004, President George W. Bush gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was also made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the United Kingdom.

Iraq War Decisions

Gen. Franks visiting a palace in Iraq in April 2003.

Authors have written about the challenges General Franks faced during the Iraq War. He had discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld about the number of troops needed. Some believed Franks was focused on winning the immediate fight against Saddam Hussein. They felt less attention was given to what would happen after the war.

There were also different ideas about when certain troop equipment should arrive in Iraq. Franks believed his plan helped trick the Iraqis about where the U.S. attack would come from. Others, like Colin Powell, had different opinions.

After the main fighting ended, Franks wanted to retire. He had led two major wars and the overall fight against terrorism since 2001. Some people felt there was a lack of clear leadership in the months after Baghdad fell. This was because his deputies had different ideas, and a new commander took over in Iraq.

Some military officers who worked with Franks said he was good at planning battles. However, they felt he sometimes lacked a broader view of the overall strategy. They also noted that he was very focused on his goals.

General Franks said in 2005 that he was surprised that weapons of mass destruction were not used against U.S. troops in Iraq.

Personal Life and Later Work

Since retiring in 2003, General Franks has run his own consulting company called Franks & Associates LLC. This company helps businesses plan for and recover from disasters.

In 2004, he published his autobiography called American Soldier. It became a number one best-seller. The book talks about his experiences in Vietnam and the later wars.

General Franks supported President George W. Bush for re-election in 2004. President Bush later awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Franks also became a spokesperson for a company that helps parents track their teenage drivers using GPS.

He has served on the boards of directors for several companies, including Bank of America and Chuck E. Cheese's.

General Franks is also involved with several non-profit organizations. He is on the board of the National Park Foundation. He advises groups that support military families and guide dogs.

There is a museum dedicated to him in Hobart, Oklahoma. General Franks lives in Roosevelt, Oklahoma.