Frank Thomas Mildren
General, U.S. Army

Frank Thomas Mildren was born in Pima, AZ, on 8 July 1913 and then grew up in Las Vegas, NV. Following his high school graduation, he studied at the University of Nevada at Reno for two years before receiving an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1939 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. His first duty assignment was with the 38th Infantry Regiment at Fort Sam Houston, TX.

World War II

When the U.S. entered World War II, Mildren's unit was sent to the European Theater of Operations where, as a Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment (The Rock of the Marne), 2nd Infantry Division during the D-Day invasion on 6 June 1944. He was awarded two Silver Stars for his gallantry in combat in Northern France and Germany. Mildren returned to the U.S. in August 1945 where he was assigned as a Staff Operations Officer with the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Walters, TX, and later at Fort Lewis, WA.

Post-WWII Assignments

After World War II, Mildren was a student at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, in August 1946. Following his graduation, he was assigned to the Plans and Operations Division, Headquarters, U.S. Army, in Washington, DC. He attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, VA, in February 1949 and then returned to Headquarters, U.S. Army, as a Staff Operations Officer.

Korean War

During the Korean War, Mildren was sent to Korea in 1951 to serve as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3) with X Corps. While serving in that position, he earned his third Silver Star and the Legion of Merit. Later, Colonel Mildren was assigned as Commanding Officer of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, which fought at the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge; Battle of the Punchbowl; and in the Mundung-ni Valley. For his valor as Regimental Commander, he was awarded his fourth and fifth Silver Stars and his second Legion of Merit. Colonel Mildren's next assignment was as Senior Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of Eighth U.S. Army, General James Van Fleet.

Post-Korean War Assignments

Colonel Mildren continued his military education at the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, DC, in 1955. His next assignment was as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at Headquarters U.S. Army. In 1960, Mildren was promoted to Brigadier General and became Assistant Division Commander for Operations, 24th Infantry Division, in Germany. Following that assignment he served as Chief of Staff of V Corps. As a Major General, Mildren was assigned as Commanding General of 3rd Infantry Division. In July 1965, Mildren was promoted to Lieutenant General and assigned as Commander of VII Corps at Kelly Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany.

Lieutenant General Mildren was assigned as Commanding General, U.S. Army Vietnam, during the period 1968-70. Upon completion of that assignment in 1970, he was assigned as the Deputy Commander of Continental Army Command at Fort Monroe, VA.

Mildren was promoted to the four-star rank of General on 1 April 1971. His final command was as Commander, Allied Land Forces South East Europe (COMLANDSOUTHEAST) from 1971 to 1973.

General Mildren retired from the Army in August 1973.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Army Distinguished Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Silver Star Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Star
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Korean Service Medal with Silver and 2 Bronze Stars
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm
French Croix de guerre with Palm
United Nations Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Combat Infantryman Badge with Star
Army Staff Identification Badge

Additional Foreign Medals

Korean Order of Military Merit (Ulchi)
Korean Order of Military Merit (Chung Mu)
Korean Order of Service Merit (1st Class)
Luxembourg Cross of War
National Order of Vietnam (Knight)

Death and Burial

General Frank Thomas Mildren died on 14 September 1990. He is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio., Bexar County, TX, in Plot AA, 0, 1117.