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ChrisLeonard

In Memoriam: Lieutenant General Thomas G. Rhame (USA-Ret)

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In Memoriam: Lieutenant General Thomas G. Rhame (USA-Ret)

On behalf of President Mark A. Rado and the VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association Board of Directors, it is with deep regret that we announce the passing of LTG (Ret) Thomas G. Rhame. Our deepest sympathies from us all in VII Corps DSVA to his wife Lin, children Gregg and Becca, and the entire Family on their loss. We will all miss Tom. Our 1st Infantry Division Big Red One Commander in VII Corps during Desert Storm. A great Soldier, up front combat Commander, and leader by any measure. So proud personally to serve with him and of our enduring friendship. God Bless Tom Rhame. Our prayers to Lin, Gregg, Becca and their entire Family on their loss.

With deep respect and sincere condolences,

General Fred Franks (signature)

Frederick M. Franks, Jr.
Chairman,
VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association

GEN Fred Franks and CSM Harold Shrewsberry: wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns

Memorial Day 2023 Message from GEN Fred Franks (USA-Ret)

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Desert Storm VII Corps Veterans and your Families,

On Memorial Day, Monday 29 May 2023, this special day across America, at our overseas American Cemeteries and wherever our military is currently serving, we honor and remember our men and women who died in military service to our Nation.

On this most special and sacred day, in this our 32d Anniversary year of our VII Corps Victory in Desert Storm that as part of the Coalition that liberated Kuwait, Denise and I, on behalf of our Association President Mark Rado and our VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association Board, want to thank you and your Families for your own service and our service together in VII Corps during Desert Storm. Together with all of you we honor and remember this Memorial Day and every day our own Fallen, those 111 of our VII Corps Desert Storm Soldiers who in President Lincoln’s words, “gave that last full measure of devotion” and remember their Gold Star Families.

We said at the end of Desert Storm over 32 years ago that “we will never forget” and we have not forgotten our VII Corps comrades nor as a Nation all those who have fallen in military service.

This year at our 32d Anniversary Reunion (held 23-26 February 2023 in Arlington, VA after the 30th and 31st reunions held virtually due to COVID) of our victory in 1991, faithful to that promise at the Old Post Chapel next to Arlington National Cemetery, Chaplain COL (Ret) Dave O’Connell, conducted a military Memorial Service, where our past Association President MG (Ret) John Altenburg called out each of the names of our Fallen one by one. One of our former commanders gives commander remarks as is right at these ceremonies. This year LTG Donna Martin, a Wartime LT in VII Corps 14th MP Brigade, and now Inspector General of the US Army, gave informative, inspiring, and moving remarks.

May we all pause in our own way this Memorial Day 2023 in deep remembrance to honor and remember our own 111 Fallen and all those who gave it all in military service–and their Gold Star Families who bear the pain of their loss.

We deeply treasure our service with each of you as well as your Families. We are planning our 33rd Reunion the weekend of 15-18 February 2024 in Washington DC at the Crystal Gateway Marriott and Ft. Myer, VA Old Post Chapel. Blessings this Memorial Day to all of you to stay well and remain in contact with each other and reach out to Families of our Fallen as that is possible for you.

JAYHAWK!!

General Fred Franks (signature)

Fred M. Franks, Jr.
Gen, US Army (ret)
Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board

Veterans Day 2022 Message from GEN Fred Franks (USA-Ret)

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General Fred Franks (USA-Ret) speaks at the VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association 29th Anniversary Memorial & Reunion

VII Corps Veterans and Families Veterans Day 2022,

On behalf of our VII Corps Desert Storm Association Board and the President of our Association, COL (RET) Mark Rado, my wife Denise and I want to wish all our VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans and your Families all the very best this Veterans Day 11 November 2022.

This is our 32nd Anniversary year. Just three days before Veterans Day 1990, on 8 November, we received our no notice order to deploy to Saudi Arabia to execute what would be a totally new mission against a new enemy on different terrain and organized differently than our Cold War VII Corps with US Army units from the USA and British units from the UK and Germany. All that plus we were to leave our Families in our forward deployed location in Germany. From that no notice start requiring enormous initiative and adaptation by individuals, units, and Families in our new Corps, to our historic and rapid 250 kilometer 89-hour mounted armored combined arms attack as part of the Coalition 24-28 February 1991, that liberated Kuwait, to our over six-week occupation and humanitarian mission, we were a great team and the largest armored corps ever fielded by the US Army in combat.

We fought and won together the largest tank battle in the history of the US Army in southeastern Iraq-northwestern Kuwait as documented by the US Army War College. Your courageous and selfless service to our Nation accomplished all that in VII Corps with the greatest combat skill gained from our intense battle focused training, and then with your courage, discipline, extraordinary initiative, teamwork, will to win, and yes, sacrifice in execution.

Our grateful appreciation as well to our Families who served with their own brand of courage, those in the USA, UK, and those staying in already forward deployed locations in Germany. All of you made a difference when it counted.

We also honor and remember, as we do at our annual Reunion Memorial Service, when we call each individual name, the sacrifice of those 111 of VII Corps who in President Lincoln’s words, ‘gave that last full measure of devotion’ and their Families who continue to endure the pain of their loss.

Yes, across America, we honor on this Veterans Day 2022, this special day in America, all those who selflessly served our Nation and what we stand for. We also honor those who serve today, those around the world, many still in combat daily, who stand between the evil out there and all the rest of us, just as all of you did with your own service in VII Corps during Desert Storm and service beyond, and we honor their Families.

As these years have passed, I continue to treasure our wartime service together in VII Corps even more strongly and remain honored to have been your commander as Denise values the invaluable Family contributions at home. We both continue to treasure the friendships over these 32 years.

All the best to each of you and your Families this 2022 Veterans Day. Please save the date for our 32d VII Corps DSVA Reunion 23-26 February 2023 in Washington DC.

JAYHAWK!

General Fred Franks (signature)

Fred M. Franks
General, US Army (retired)
Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board of Directors

Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

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All of us as Veterans of VII Corps in Desert Storm, our VII Corps DSVA President Mark Rado and Board, and in honor to our British comrades in 1st UK Armoured Division we so proudly served with in VII Corps in combat, we pay our deepest respects and honor to Queen Elizabeth II on her passing.

A truly great Queen and stateswoman by any measure and for all times. We shall all miss her inspiring presence, her deep and enduring devotion to duty, grace, courage, and wisdom.

With Great Respect,

General Fred Franks (signature)

Fred M. Franks
Gen, US Army (ret)
Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board
Desert Storm Commander VII Corps

General Fred Franks (USA-Ret)

Veterans Day 2021 Message from GEN Fred Franks (USA-Ret)

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VII Corps Veterans and Families Veterans Day 2021,

On behalf of our VII Corps Desert Storm Association Board and the President of our Association, COL (RET) Mark Rado, my wife Denise and I want to wish all our VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans and your Families all the very best this Veterans Day 11 November 2021.

This is our 31st Anniversary year. Just three days before Veterans Day 1990, on 8 November, we received our no notice order to deploy to Saudi Arabia. From that no notice start to our historic and rapid 250 kilometer 89-hour mounted armored combined arms attack as part of the Coalition 24-28 February 1991, that liberated Kuwait, to our over six-week occupation and humanitarian mission, we were a great team and the largest armored corps ever fielded by the US Army in combat.

We fought and won together the largest tank battle in the history of the US Army in southeastern Iraq-northwestern Kuwait as documented by the US Army War College. Your courageous and selfless service to our Nation accomplished all that in VII Corps with the greatest combat skill gained from our intense battle focused training, and then with your courage, discipline, teamwork, will to win, and yes, sacrifice in execution.

Our grateful appreciation as well to our Families who served with their own brand of courage, those in the USA, UK, and those staying in already forward deployed locations in Germany. All of you made a difference when it counted.

We also honor and remember, as we do at our annual Reunion Memorial Service, when we call each individual name, the sacrifice of those of VII Corps who in President Lincoln’s words, ‘gave that last full measure of devotion’ and their Families who continue to endure the pain of their loss.

This year our Nation ended our military commitment to Afghanistan. Among our own VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans, we might have Afghanistan War Veterans. I wanted to share with you this Veterans Day 2021 that amidst all that is being shown, written, and said about it all, that I strongly and firmly believe all those who served in Afghanistan have earned 20 years of freedom for all of us in America from terrorist attacks launched from Afghanistan. Our Afghanistan Veterans, many more than once and from all our Armed Services, did that with great courage, ability to adapt, selfless sacrifice, and intense devotion to each other, qualities in battle we all recognize. All of us in America can be forever grateful to them and to their families and to those who gave that last full measure in that mission and to their Gold Star Families for that accomplishment. I’d ask us all as VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans, if we know any Afghanistan Veterans or Families or Gold Star Families, that we reach out to them and tell them Thank You for those 20 years and their own service and sacrifice in accomplishing that.

Yes, across America, we honor on this Veterans Day 2021, this special day in America, all those who selflessly served our Nation and what we stand for. We also honor those who serve today, those around the world, many still in combat daily, who stand between the evil out there and all the rest of us, just as all of you did with your own service in VII Corps during Desert Storm and service beyond, and we honor their Families.

As these years have passed, I continue to treasure our wartime service together in VII Corps even more strongly and remain honored to have been your commander as Denise values the invaluable Family contributions at home. We both continue to treasure the friendships over these 31 years.

All the best to each of you and your Families this 2021 Veterans Day. Please save the date for our 31st VII Corps DSVA Reunion 24-27 February 2022 in Washington DC.

JAYHAWK!

General Fred Franks (signature)

Fred M. Franks
General, US Army (retired)
Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board of Directors

General Franks statement on the passing of GEN(R) Colin Powell

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We all were moved and greatly saddened to learn this morning of the passing of Gen (ret) Colin Powell. On behalf of our President Col (ret) Mark Rado and our entire VII Corps DSVA Board, I want to express our deepest sympathies to Mrs. Alma Powell and the entire Powell family. Our thoughts and prayers to them in this time of great loss.

General Powell was a truly remarkable man, Soldier, and public servant.
A great American for all times and by any measure in positions of the highest responsibilities serving our Nation as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff then later as our Secretary of State, then founding Chairman of America’s Promise for the well-being of our young people.

He was a personal friend and a friend of VII Corps. He was the architect of our Coalition Victory. He came to Kelley Barracks 27 June 1991 in Stuttgart, Germany for our Honors Ceremony honoring all who had served in VII Corps on Desert Storm. He said that day in his speech:

“You have raised the levels of warfare to new heights. You fought a war of complexity and integration no one has ever seen before. You were at the very top of the profession of arms…You showed that this Army, this Navy, this Air Force, this Marine Corps, this Coast Guard, joined by allies from around the world in a grand coalition, were able to assemble in a short period of time and defeat the fourth largest army in the world and defeat it handily. You were there; you were magnificent; you can take great pride in your accomplishments… You have made America proud again…You have shown that the Armed Forces of The United States, and especially the Jayhawk Corps, are the best and brightest of the Nation.”

General Powell also came to our 15th Desert Storm Veterans Association Dinner in February 2006 as our honored guest speaker. He inspired us all with his moving and informative remarks paying tribute to VII Corps Soldiers that most special evening.

America and the world have lost a great Soldier, Statesman, and a genuinely caring and authentic public servant who improved and made greater so many dimensions of our Nation and the world. We will all miss him.

General Fred Franks (signature)

Fred M. Franks
General, US Army (retired)
Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board of Directors

GEN Fred Franks and CSM Harold Shrewsberry: wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns

2021 Memorial Day Message from GEN Fred M. Franks (USA-Ret)

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Desert Storm VII Corps Veterans and your Families,

On this Memorial Day Monday 31 May 2021, this special day in America, we honor and remember all our men and women who died in military service to our Nation. On this most special and sacred day, in this our 30th Anniversary year of our Victory in Desert Storm that as part of the Coalition liberated Kuwait, Denise and I, on behalf of our Association President Mark Rado and our VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association Board, want to thank you and your Families for your own service and our service together in VII Corps during Desert Storm, and together honor and remember this Memorial Day and every day our own Fallen, those 111 of our VII Corps Desert Storm Soldiers who in President Lincoln’s words, “gave that last full measure of devotion.”

We said at the end of Desert Storm over 30 years ago that “we will forever remember” and we have remembered our VII Corps Fallen. This year as you know because of COVID restrictions in Virginia, we held a combined virtual 30th Anniversary Reunion and Memorial Service 1 May of our victory in 1991.

Faithful to that promise and as we do at each Reunion, we held that Memorial Service 1 May, conducted by Chaplain Col (ret) Dave O’Connell, where our past Association President MG (ret) John Altenburg called out each of the names of our Fallen one by one as he has each year. One of our former commanders gives commander remarks as is right at these ceremonies. This year Col (ret) John Gingrich, Wartime Commander of 4th Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, Division Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, gave thoughtful, moving, and inspiring remarks.

We had intended to commemorate our 30th Anniversary this year by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of our 111 Fallen in VII Corps as we had done at our 25th Reunion. That was not possible due to COVID restrictions. Not to be denied we decided to lay wreaths on 30 April at the gravesites of two of our Fallen in Arlington National Cemetery to honor them and all of our Fallen. Our two Fallen there in Arlington are: ROBERT DAUGHERTY, 5/16 Infantry as part of TF 2-34 Armor, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, The Big Red One, and JOSEPH KIME, HHC, 1st Brigade, 3d Armored Division, Spearhead. The ceremony was coordinated by Board member Wartime VII Corps G-5 Col (ret) Art Hotop, with remarks by 1st Infantry Division wartime commander LTG (ret) Tom Rhame, and by past VII Corps DSVA President and VII Corps Wartime 1st AD SJA, MG (ret) John Altenburg. Other attendees were Board Members VII Corps Veteran Col (ret) Jay Waters, and wartime Corps Artillery CSM, CSM (ret) Harold Shrewsberry, and VII Corps wartime ACE, and former DSVA Treasurer LTC (ret) Bob Candido.

In these continuing demanding times this year of 2021 on this day that has become sacred in America all across our great Nation, may we all pause in our own way this Memorial Day 2021 in deep remembrance to honor and remember our own Fallen and all those who gave it all in military service–and their families who bear the pain of their loss.

We value our service with each of you. We are planning our in-person 31st Reunion the weekend of 24-27 February 2022 in Washington DC at the Crystal Gateway Marriott and Ft. Myer, VA Chapel and perhaps even the new Army Museum with details to follow. Blessings this Memorial Day to all of you to stay well and remain in contact with each other.

JAYHAWK!!

General Fred Franks (signature)

Fred M. Franks, Jr.
Gen, US Army (ret)
Chairman VII Corps DSVA

VII Corps DSVA 30th Anniversary Celebration

May 1: VII Corps DSVA 30th Anniversary Celebration

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TEAM JAYHAWK: As I relayed to you on 6 April, we made the decision to conduct our 30th Anniversary Celebration virtually instead of in-person this year. As you might imagine, this was not an easy decision to make in light of the significant milestone that the 30th Anniversary is. However, your VII Corps DSVA Board of Directors thought this to be the safest COA for all involved.

Toward that end, here is the link for the Zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83191511128

The ceremony will begin promptly at 1300 EDT on Saturday, 1 May with some pre-ceremonial music playing starting at approximately 1245 EDT. We request that all personnel be logged on NLT 1300 EDT in order to support an on-time start. The ceremony should take approximately one hour and will consist of live speakers, recorded comments, and plenty of wonderful Army Band music! As it is our custom to do, we will call the roll and announce the names of our 111 VII Corps War Dead.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the ceremony; we look forward to coming together as a group on Saturday.

JAYHAWK!

v/r rado

MARK A. RADO
Colonel, USA Retired
President, VII Corps DSVA

Full text of the invitation:

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: May 1, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: VII Corps DSVA 30th Anniversary Celebration

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83191511128
Or One tap mobile :
US: +13462487799,,83191511128# or +12532158782,,83191511128#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 831 9151 1128
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbWQSZmjXS

Then-Lieutenant General Fred Franks during Desert Storm

30th Anniversary Commemoration of Desert Storm to all VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans And Families

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Today, 24 February, marks the day 30 years ago when we began our attack to destroy the RGFC in our sector of attack and as part of the Coalition to liberate Kuwait. Time does not dim the memory of your skill, courage, and selfless sacrifice in our rapid 250 kilometer, 89-hour mounted armored combined arms attack that, as part of the Coalition 24-28 February 1991, won a great victory and accomplished that mission.

The battle VII Corps fought day and night on 26-28 February 1991 in Southeast Iraq and Northern Kuwait was the largest tank battle in the history of the US Army. It was an attack of historic proportions over distances and at speeds unmatched, in sandstorms and rain, day and night. It was made possible by the extraordinary courage, skill, disciplined teamwork and fierce, no quit grit and will to win of all of you, soldiers and leaders. It was fast but it was not easy.

I want to say thanks with deep affection and respect how enormously proud I am of all soldiers and leaders, all 146,000, in VII Corps and what we all did together 30 years ago, as well as to all of your families who served with their own brand of courage in Germany and the USA.

We continue to remember and honor the 111 of VII Corps who died from all causes who, in Lincoln’s words, ‘gave that last full measure of devotion’, and we remember their families.

Today, on the eve of our ground attack 30 years ago, I remember deeply what an honor it was to serve in your ranks and to lead VII Corps into battle. Truly life’s great and humbling privilege. JAYHAWK!!

General Fred Franks (signature)

Fred M. Franks
General, US Army (retired)
Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board of Directors

VII Corps DSVA 30th Anniversary Reunion Weekend Rescheduled

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TEAM JAYHAWK: We wanted to give you some feedback based on our last letter to you and the follow on Executive Board meeting held on 14 November 2020. Acting in an abundance of caution, your Board of Directors made the decision to hold our 30th Anniversary Reunion Weekend later in the Spring (29 Apr – 2 May 2021; Crystal Gateway Marriott; Arlington, VA)) vs. our traditional February dates which historically have coincided with the conduct of the Ground War in 1991.

Our decision was largely based on feedback received from you; our membership. We truly appreciate your taking the time to give us this important feedback. We had a very strong response rate to our survey; we’ll use the information gathered as we continue planning the event. Our first order of planning business, was to re-secure our Dinner Guest Speaker; GEN James C. McConville, the 40th Chief of Staff of the Army! We are proud to announce that his busy calendar still support his ability to be with us as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our Coalition victory in the Gulf!

Please keep an eye on our website (desertstormvets.org) and our Facebook page for more information, but we wanted to get this out to you for planning purposes soonest.

We hope that each of you and your families had a lovely and safe Thanksgiving; we are very thankful for your membership in the VII Corps DSVA and for your incredible service in ODS/DS 30 years ago!

Best wishes for the upcoming holiday season; please stay safe…. JAYHAWK!

General Fred Franks (signature)

FREDERICK M. FRANKS, JR.
General, USA Retired
Chairman, VII Corps DSVA

MARK A. RADO
Colonel, USA Retired
President, VII Corps DSVA