Tommy Franks

Tommy Franks
Tommy Franks
	Official portrait, 2000
Birth name	Tommy Ray Bentley
Born	17 June 1945; Wynnewood, Oklahoma, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Service years	1965–2003
Rank	General
Commands	United States Central Command; Third United States Army; 2nd Infantry Division; 82nd Field Artillery Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery
Conflicts	See list 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)
Alma mater	University of Texas at Arlington
Spouse	Cathryn Carley (m. 1969)

Tommy Ray Franks (born 17 June 1945) is a retired United States Army general. His last army post was as the Commander of the United States Central Command, overseeing United States military operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East. Franks succeeded General Anthony Zinni to this position on 6 July 2000 and served until his retirement on 7 July 2003. Franks was the United States general leading the attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001. He also oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.