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Steve Castleton

VETERANS DAY 2023 MESSAGE FROM GEN FRED FRANKS (USA-RET)

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VII Corps Veterans and Families Veterans Day 2023,

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 2023.

Each year near Veterans Day I am reminded that we got the order to deploy to Saudi Arabia, except for eight of us, actually no notice from President George H. W. Bush’s address to the Nation on 8 November 1990, just three days before Veterans Day. That makes this of course our 33rd Anniversary year.

As all of you know as well as I do, we would 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 Germany and the USA and British units from the UK and Germany. All that plus we were to leave our Families in our forward deployed locations in Germany. That no notice start required enormous initiative and adaptation by individuals, units, and Families in our new Corps. You made that happen like the great professionals you were. Then we located to the desert, made our plans and did our rehearsals; got desert smart and desert tough and ready to attack, to fight and win. Then together in this new VII Corps team we executed our historic and rapid 250 kilometer, 89-hour mounted five-division armored combined arms attack as part of the Coalition that liberated Kuwait from 24-28 February 1991. Then together, and in accordance with the values of who we are and what we stand for, we executed what turned out to be an unpredicted and over six-week occupation and humanitarian mission. Time for me does not dim at all my memory of what a great team we were together, 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 gainedfrom our intense battle focused razor-sharp training, and then with your courage, discipline, battle command leadership, 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 then wait in silence, 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.

I ask we remember those serving today as well, who recently deployed and continue to deploy to the Middle East, land, sea, and air as our Nation stands with Israel and their actions in defense of their nation and people against the barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7 and as we also protect and defend our forces already stationed and serving in that region as well as those in Europe and the Far East in the Pacific.

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 and I both admire and respect the invaluable Family contributions at home. We both continue to treasure the friendships over these 33 years.

All the best to each of you and your Families this 2023 Veterans Day. Please save the date for our 33d VII Corps DSVA Reunion 15-18 February 2024 in Washington DC.

 

JAYHAWK!

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

Gen. Franks says farewell to the Corps of Cadets

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The Corps of Cadets honored the service of retired Gen. Fred Franks Nov. 1 at Washington Hall. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1959, Franks served for 35 and a half years and later became the Chair and visiting scholar of the Simon Center for Professional Military Ethic. On the first of November, Franks’ 80th birthday, his career came full circle as he bid a Soldier’s farewell to the Corps.

“Gen. Fred Franks has done more to advance the Army profession than anyone I know,” Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. said during Franks’ farewell dinner. “His drive, his commitment to excellence, and his passion for our Army has never faltered… He is, above all, a Soldier.”

Read the full article here.

Veterans Day 2016 Message from GEN Fred Franks, USA-Ret:

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My wife Denise and I and on behalf of our President Col (ret) Mark Rado and our newly elected VII Corps Desert Storm Association Board wish our VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans and Families all the very best this Veterans Day 2016 and every day. This continues to be a special year as you know. We commemorate 25 years from our rapid 250 kilometer 89-hour attack as part of the Coalition 24-28 February 1991 operation that liberated Kuwait. We did all that as a team. We commemorated this special year with over 300 of you at our 25th Reunion in February in Washington DC. By reading each name at our Memorial Service we were able to remember and honor those of our ranks who in Lincoln’s words ‘gave that last full measure of devotion’ and their Families. This year as a special honor we laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington. Our Reunion Dinner followed with an inspiring talk by the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and VII Corps Veteran, General (ret) Marty Dempsey.

Thank you for your courageous and selfless service to our Nation in accomplishing all we did together in VII Corps with great skill from our training, courage, discipline, teamwork, and yes, sacrifice, during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 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. You all made a difference when it counted, as do this post 9/11 generation who serve today with great skill, selflessness, and sacrifice, in current operations worldwide, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. I value our wartime service with all of you and remain honored to have been your commander just as Denise values the invaluable Family contributions at home. We both continue to treasure the friendships over these now more than 25 years.

Our Board decided to move this year’s Reunion from Washington DC to Houston, Texas to be closer for more of our members. Details are listed on our VII Corps DSVA website to include an opportunity to sign up to attend. Denise and I hope to see you at our 26th Reunion February 26, 2017.

All the very best to each of you and your Families this 2016 Veterans Day.

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

Gulf War Veteran’s Exercise Study on Pain

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We have been asked to share some information regarding a study being conducted by the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, WI:

“Dear Gulf War Veteran,

“We would like to tell you about the research being done at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in conjunction with The University of Wisconsin – Madison and invite you to participate. This research is aimed at understanding brain function of pain and the impact of weight-training exercise in Persian Gulf Veterans who served during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm and who experience chronic muscle pain. This work is supported by the Department of Veteran Affairs.”

Download the flyer to learn more.

A Letter from President George H. W. Bush

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General Franks, President Bush dictated the brief note below earlier today:

Dear Fred,

Please convey to the entire VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association my thanks for the very kind birthday wishes. Your warm sentiments mean a great deal to me.

With respect and lasting gratitude for your service to our country.

George Bush

41

GENERAL FRED FRANKS 2016 MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE

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As we approach the sacred day of Memorial Day in America where we honor and remember our men and women who died in military service, Denise and I, on behalf of our newly elected Association President Mark Rado and our new VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association Board, are reaching out to you and your Families to thank you for your own service and your service in VII Corps during Desert Storm.

To remember our own fallen this 25th Anniversary year of our victory in 1991, on 27 February at our VII Corps Reunion Chaplain Col (ret) Wayne Lehrer conducted a military Memorial Service, as he has done each year, where our past Association President MG (ret) John Altenburg read each of the 111 names of our VII Corps Desert Storm Soldiers who in Lincoln’s words, “gave that last full measure of devotion.” One of our former commanders, this year LTG Karen Dyson, gave commander remarks as is appropriate at these ceremonies.

This year in special commemoration following our Memorial Service, CSM (ret) Harold Shrewsberry, Association Vice President and I, accompanied by former division and major unit commanders and CSM, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington National Cemetery to honor and remember our 111 Fallen. We said at the end of Desert Storm 25 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.

May we all pause in our own way this Memorial Day 2016 in deep remembrance to honor and remember those Soldiers who gave it all in military service–and their Families. We value our service with each of you and look forward to seeing many of you at our Reunion the weekend of 24-26 February 2017 in Houston, TX.

Fred Franks
Gen, US Army (retired)
Chairman, VII Corps DSVA Board

VII Corps DSVA Installs New Officers to Board of Directors

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(Picture Above) VII Corps DSVA new Board of Directors installed on 23 April 2016 in Springfield, VA at a called Board meeting.

SPRINFIELD, VA:  On Saturday 23 April 2016 the VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association installed new members to their Board of Directors at a called Board Meeting. New officers were voted on at the 27 February 2016 called general membership meeting in Arlington, VA.

New officers installed were:  Colonel Mark Rado – President, Stan Lenox III – Vice President, CSM(R) Violet McNeirney – Secretary, CSM John McNeirney – Treasurer, MG(R) John Altenburg – Legal Counsel, COL (Chaplain) Wayne Lehrer – Chaplain, BG(R) Ed Dyer – Scholarship Committee Chair, CSM(R) Harold Shrewsberry – Golf Tournament Chair, COL(R) Art Hoptop – Historian. General Fred Franks, USA-Ret will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board.

General Fred Franks, USA-Ret – Chairman of the Board of Directors thanked the outgoing Board members for their distinguished service and welcomed the new Board Members.

Written statement will be forthcoming from the new President and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

President George H.W. Bush Pens Letter To Desert Storm Veterans In Honor Of 25th Reunion

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To the Members of VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association:

Your able leader and my respected friend, General Franks, wrote me about your upcoming 25th reunion, and I am very happy to have the opportunity to send greetings to all gathered  for this milestone   occasion.

The decision to commit our sons and daughters to battle is never easy for a President. But after  Saddam  Hussein’s  invasion  of Kuwait  in  1990, we had no choice but  to take  a stand against this act  of aggression.  I  had  full confidence in the ability of our military to complete our mission, and VII Corps exceeded my expectations -no surprise there. You maintained a legacy of operational excellence, and the role you played in achieving our objective was  immeasurable.

Both Barbara and I have a special place in our hearts for the military members and families who served during Operation Desert Storm. Also close to our hearts are memories of heroes who never came home, and I join you in paying special tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

This Navy man and former Commander-in-Chief salutes every veteran in attendance and thanks you for your service to our country. I hope that this reunion is an occasion marked by pride in your selfless contribution to a successful mission. Certainly, my pride in each one of  you  knows  no  bounds.

With respect and lasting gratitude,

George H.W. Bush

Sam Donaldson clip with CO D, 1/37 Armor 1st AD on 21 Feb 1991.

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VIDEO: ABC news clip that Sam Donaldson did with CO D, 1/37 Armor 1st AD on 21 Feb 1991. CO was then CPT Dana Pitard. Great testimonial to our Soldiers.

Posted by VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association on Monday, October 19, 2015

Click the video above to watch an ABC news clip that Sam Donaldson did with CO D, 1/37 Armor 1st AD on 21 Feb 1991. CO was then CPT Dana Pitard. Great testimonial to our Soldiers.