Charles D. Franklin

Charles D. Franklin
File:Charles D. Franklin (US Army Lieutenant General).png Franklin as commander of the First United States Army in September 1984
Born	(1931-12-11)December 11, 1931 Hugo, Missouri, US
Died	March 16, 1992(1992-03-16) (aged 60) Falls Church, Virginia, US
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1953–1987
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	First United States Army 9th Infantry Division Artillery 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery
Battles / wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (23) Army Commendation Medal (2)

Charles D. Franklin (December 11, 1931 – March 16, 1992) was an officer in the United States Army who retired as a lieutenant general.

Early life

Charles Dale Franklin was born in Hugo, Missouri on December 11, 1931, the son of Jewell Franklin and Ethel (Shipman) Franklin. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1953 with a degree in agriculture and received his second lieutenant's commission in the Field Artillery through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

Military career

Franklin graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1953, and then served with the 1st Cavalry Division during the Korean War. He completed the Artillery Officer Advanced Course in 1959. In 1962, he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He graduated from the United States Army War College in 1970. Franklin's assignments included tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; he commanded first the 116th Attack Helicopter Company, 269th Combat Aviation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, and later the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division. He served as commander of the 9th Infantry Division Artillery, chief of staff of the 9th Infantry Division, and deputy chief and chief of legislative liaison in the office of the Secretary of the Army. In 1984 he succeeded Donald E. Rosenblum as commander of the First United States Army at Fort Meade, Maryland. He was succeeded in this post by James E. Thompson Jr. and retired in 1987.

Awards and decorations

File:US Army Master Aviator Badge.png  Master Army Aviator Badge

File:United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png  Army Staff Identification Badge

Bronze oak leaf cluster File:U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

File:Silver Star BAR.svg Silver Star

Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster

File:Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross

File:Air Medal ribbon.svgFile:Award numeral 2.pngFile:Award numeral 3.png Air Medal with Award numerals "23"

Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation

Bronze oak leaf cluster File:National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Silver star File:Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal with silver service star

File:Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon

File:Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svgFile:Award numeral 2.png  Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 2

File:Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm

File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation

File:Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal

Additional honors

In 1989, Franklin received the honorary degree of Legum Doctor from the University of Missouri.

Death and burial

Franklin died of heart ailments at Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia on March 16, 1992. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 30, Grave 246-RH. Survivors included his wife, Pat and three children, Charles, Debby, and Susan.

Sources

Newspapers

• "Captain C. D. Franklin Completes Course". Sunday News and Tribune. Jefferson, MO. July 1, 1962. p. 20.
• "Mid-Missourians in America's Armed Services". Daily Capital News. Jefferson City, MO. October 9, 1969. p. 10.
• "Charles Franklin Dies at 60". Washington Post. Washington, DC. March 18, 1992.
• "Obituary, Charles D. Franklin". Springfield News-Leader. Springfield, MO. March 19, 1992. p. 12.

Internet

• "Burial record, Charles D. Franklin". Arlington National Cemetery. United States Department of the Army. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
• "University of Missouri Honorary Degrees". Archives of the University of Missouri. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
• Detra, Dick. "The 269th Combat Aviation Battalion". VHPA Museum. Grand Prairie, TX: Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. p. 7. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
• "Decorated; Silver Star". Tropic Lightning News. Flourtown, PA: 25th Infantry Division Association. January 29, 1968. Retrieved January 1, 2017.

Books

• U.S. Army Register. Vol. 1. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. 1966. p. 193.
• Army Executive Biographies. Washington, DC: US Department of the Army. 1985. p. 51.

Magazines

• "Commanders Update" (PDF). Field Artillery Journal. Ft. Sill, OK: Field Artillery School. January 1, 1976. p. 59. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.

External links

• Lt. Gen. Charles D. Franklin Retirement Ceremony at YouTube.com