Topic: Tommy Franks

General Tommy Ray Franks, United States Army, KBE, (born 17 June 1945 in Wynnewood, Oklahoma) is a retired General in the United States Army. His last Army post was as the Commander of the United States Central Command, overseeing United States Armed Forces 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 U.S. general leading the attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon in 2001. He also led the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Born Tommy Ray Bentley in Oklahoma, and adopted by Ray and Lorene "Pete" Parker Franks, Tommy Franks graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and where he was a brother of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. He dropped out of college after two years due to subpar grades.