News

To VII Corps Veterans and Families on Veterans Day and National Veterans and Military Families Month 2024

On behalf of our VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans 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 2024 and in this National Veterans and Military Families Month November 2024. 

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. It essentially was like those monthly Lariat Advance alerts we did every month during the Cold War to keep us razor sharp combat ready. Only this time we were going to Saudi Arabia as the offensive attack option in case Saddam Hussein would not retreat from Kuwait. That makes this of course our 34th 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 and now proud Victorious Veterans of mobile armored combat. 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 250-300 kilometer 89-hour mounted five-division armored combined arms attack as part of the Coalition 24-28 February 1991, and liberated Kuwait. Then together and in accordance with the values of who we are and the values we stand for we executed what turned out to be an unpredicted over six-week humanitarian mission to include moving over 8,000 Iraqis who wanted out of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq to a temporary refugee camp our Engineers built in Saudi Arabia. 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. That is a fact.  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 razor-sharp training, and then with your courage, discipline, battle command leadership, extraordinary initiative, teamwork, will to win, and yes, sacrifice in execution. You were magnificent. 

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, the first time that ever happened. 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 continue to deploy to the Middle East as needed, land, sea, and air as our Nation stands with Israel and their actions in defense of their nation and people,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. Denise and I both admire and respect the invaluable Family contributions at home. We both continue to treasure our friendships over these 34 years. 

On this Veterans Day and National Veterans and Military Families Month I can say from the depths of my soul that I strongly believe there is something profoundly noble and good about choosing to take an oath to support and defend our Constitution with service in our Armed Forces. You have my deepest admiration and respect. You will always have that fulfilling knowledge and satisfaction that you did this as a great team and are a Veteran of victorious mobile armored warfare.

All the best to each of you and your Families and our Gold Star Families this 2024 Veterans Day and National Veterans and Military Families Month. Please save the date for our 34th VII Corps DSVA Reunion 13-16 February 2025 in Washington DC.

JAYHAWK!

Fred M. Franks

General, US Army (Retired)

Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board of Directors

Desert Storm VII Corps Veterans and your Families,

On Memorial Day, Monday 27 May 2024, 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 33d 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 33 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 33rd Anniversary Reunion (held 15-18 February 2024 in Arlington, VA) 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 wartime leaders provides remarks in their honor and memory, as is right at these ceremonies. This year CSM (Ret) Joe T. Hill, Wartime 3^rd AD CSM, gave informative, inspiring, and moving remarks; he spoke of the power of prayer and his deep love for Soldiers was evident in every word he spoke . Earlier in the weekend, COL (Ret) Rado led a group of our veterans to Arlington National Cemetery where wreaths were placed at the graves of CPT Joseph G. Kime III (3AD) and PFC Robert L. Daugherty (1ID) and we visited the graves of some of our more recently departed Desert Storm Leaders.  Additionally, MG (Ret Altenburg), COL (Ret) Rado, CSM (Ret) Hill, and our Association Treasurer, CSM (Ret) Shrewsberry were honored to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as a tribute to our 111 Fallen JAYHAWK Soldiers… “we will never forget.”

May we all pause in our own way this Memorial Day 2024 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 34th Reunion the weekend of 13-16 February 2025 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!!

Fred M. Franks, Jr.

Gen, US Army (ret)

Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board

Honor and Remembrance Vietnam War Veterans Day Special and heartfelt greetings to all my fellow Vietnam War veterans and your families. 29 March is a national day of honor, remembrance, and gratitude for all of you and your families. This National Vietnam War Veterans Day was established by our nation in 2017 by legislation signed by President Trump on March 28, 2017, following a proclamation from President Obama designating May 28, 2012, to November 11, 2025, as commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
I am humbled to be among my fellow Vietnam War veterans today and every day. And privileged and proud to call myself one of you. Today a grateful nation pauses to honor and remember those who served during Vietnam, to honor your service, valor, and sacrifice. We pause to honor and remember forever, those 58,318 fallen who gave in President Lincoln’s words ‘that last full measure of devotion’, those wounded who still carry visible and invisible wounds, our POWs, those missing in action, and our Gold Star families.
My own deepest thanks and greatest respect to all those who loyally answered our nation’s call with inspiring personal courage, skill, no quit tenacity, intense loyal devotion to each other and yes, selfless sacrifice. You served with inspiring personal courage in battle and skill equal to any generation in our military history, a generation my good friend and historian Col (Ret) Bob Sorley calls “also great.” I believe you left us all with a legacy and example of courage, selfless service and excellence that will forever endure.
Today, on this Vietnam War Veterans Day we reaffirm our most fundamental duties as citizens of the United States of America: to show all who have served in the armed forces of our nation during the Vietnam War the gratitude of a grateful nation and the respect and honor you have earned. I came to the conclusion a long time ago after I was seriously wounded and at US Army Valley Forge General Hospital among my fellow Vietnam War amputees that I strongly and fiercely believe that when our citizens serve in our armed forces by courageously swearing an oath of unlimited liability to support and defend our Constitution with their lives as that might be necessary, there is created an implied bond of trust that they can trust that we will be there for them when they come home and their duties and missions are complete, to be there for them to say thanks for their selfless service and sacrifice and to show that gratitude in ways that open opportunities for educational and employment opportunities, and in ways that provides them medical assistance for visible and invisible wounds as that might be needed and for as long as necessary.
That trust was fractured during and after the Vietnam War. We can never forget that fractured trust of years ago, but we can on this national holiday continue to resolve never to let that happen again. We all can, veterans and non-veterans alike reach out to each
other and as a nation, reach out with gratitude and honor to our Vietnam veterans for your selfless service and sacrifice. We can and must fulfill that trust to our Vietnam veterans and all those who have served and your families and to the Gold Star families of those who did
not come home.
In my own case, following extensive treatment and rehabilitation, I was permitted to remain on active duty, what I like to call life’s great privilege. In Desert Storm I was honored to command VII Corps in battle. Where every day and in battle I was inspired by
remembering my fellow Vietnam veterans and driven by doing what I could then and going forward to fulfill that bond of trust After the parade held in Washington DC in June 1991 following Desert Storm, there was one place my wife Denise and I wanted to go. The quiet
place of honor and remembrance. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The names of friends, relatives, fellow soldiers, those I served with in 2d Squadron 11th ACR Blackhorse, my 15 West Point classmates; never forgotten, never far away. This one was for you, too. Yes, the
memories of heroes honored there and to all those who served during Vietnam who should be forever proud of loyally answering our nation’s call, and of duty executed with honor, selfless sacrifice, skill, valor, and great personal courage. Thank you to all our fellow
citizens for remembering and honoring our Vietnam War veterans and their families today. On this National Vietnam War Veterans Day and every day, I remain humbled and proud to be one of you.

Thank you. Welcome Home!!

Very Respectfully,

Frederick M Franks, Jr.
General US Army (ret)

To our VII Corps TEAMMMATES:  It is my deep regret to inform you that our VII Corps Chaplain, Chaplain (COL, USA Retired) Daniel O. Davis passed away on Christmas Day 2023.  Chaplain Davis was an incredible leader and a valuable member of the VII Corps TEAM during OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.  His ability to provide pastoral care across the entire VII Corps Area of Operations was inspirational to us all. His role in enhancing the emotional, social, and spiritual care of our Soldiers was a combat multiplier and had a significant role in our success in SWA. After our return to Germany, Dan officiated our very first Memorial Ceremony, on Memorial Day 1991, honoring the 111 brave VII Corps Soldiers who gave “the last full measure of devotion.” This is a practice we continue to this day in conjunction with our annual reunion weekends where the names of the 111 Soldiers’ names are called, as part of our commitment to “never forget” their courageous sacrifice to our Nation and to uphold the concept of “never leaving a fallen comrade” as stated in our Soldiers Creed. I personally valued his extraordinary commitment and ministry to our Soldiers and leaders across the Corps and the valuable advice and judgment he provided me as Commander. Dan truly set the standard as a combat chaplain. Please see the tribute to Dan below written by Chaplain (COL, USA Retired) Dave O’Connell; our VII Corps DSVA Chaplain and a dear friend of Dan’s.  Please keep Dan and his family in your thoughts and prayers; God Bless this tremendous servant of God!

JAYHAWK!

Frederick M. Franks, Jr.

GEN, USA Retired

Chairman, VII Corps DSVA

__________________________________________________

Chaplain (COL) Daniel O. Davis

I was privileged to have known and ministered with Dan since 1979 when we were both assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and then later with the VII Corps at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany.  While there we deployed to OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM; Dan as the VII Corps Chaplain and I as a Deputy Corps Chaplain. Dan was a wonderful Minister; he loved the God about whom he spoke so meaningfully, spiritually, and eloquently about. He lived the Gospel he preached, made it come alive, and spoke often about the “Living God.”  Dan’s congregation was an unusual parish, the parishioners being United States Army Soldiers. He spent his Ministry serving Soldiers and their Families. Dan cared for them and their welfare as deeply as he did their spiritual well-being. You see, those of us who worked with him knew that he was a genuine man of God. Dan was happiest when asked to speak at prayer breakfasts and loved being with Soldiers as such occasions gave him the opportunity to preach the word of God. He was a gifted storyteller, a gift he used to perfection. He was a good friend to me and a pleasure to work with especially during Desert Storm. He lived a great long life. On Christmas Day, the God whom he loved and served so faithfully called Dan home to be united with Jenny whom he had missed so since her death earlier this year. Dan was laid to rest on 6 January 2024 with full military honors, at Mandarin Cemetery, in Jacksonville, FL. Sleep well good and faithful servant.

David O’Connell

COL, USA Retired

Chaplain, VII Corps DSVA

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,

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

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!

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

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,

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