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FORT MCPHERSON, GA (February 1, 2008) - It all began on a soggy
November morning in 1975 in Glasgow, Mo., where the rain-soaked
earth was too wet to plow. Passing the time by playing snooker at
the small town's local pool hall, a young Frank Ashe was offered a
job by Staff Sgt. Freddie Flowers, a local U.S. Army recruiter.
Infantry sounded like an adventure he simply couldn't refuse.
More than three decades of selfless service have passed, but
this day Command Sgt. Major Franklin Ashe, U.S. Army Central
command sergeant major, and his family were honored for their
sacrifices to the Nation by a capacity crowd of friends, family,
peers and fellow Soldiers.
The retirement ceremony, which was held at The Commons on Fort
McPherson, Ga., included Ashe's wife, Sabine, their two children,
and his brother.
Lt. Gen. James Lovelace, USARCENT commanding general presided
over the ceremony.
"Some words have an even deeper meaning when they are applied to
the right people," Lovelace said. "Loyalty, initiative, courage,
integrity, professionalism are some of those words."
Ashe reverently accounted for many of the noncommissioned and
commissioned officers who were in attendance and thanked each for
their service, mentorship and friendship.
"I am the sum of a lot of great leadership," said Ashe. "But I
didn't do anything great by myself."
Lovelace awarded the Distinguished Service Medal to Ashe for
meritorious service in positions of increasing responsibility while
providing guidance and advice to Army leadership at all levels
while always considering Soldiers and Families.
"I'm acutely aware of the hundreds and hundreds of Soldiers who
were responsible for my receiving this award," said Ashe.
His vast list of previous awards includes the Legion of Merit,
Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation
Medal and Joint Service Achievement award, to only name a few.
Ashe served in virtually every leadership position that an
infantryman could possibly serve, from team leader to Ranger
instructor, to the only command sergeant major of an Army-level
deployable headquarters.
From a humble beginning as a farmhand in a rural town to a
highly decorated Soldier whose career spanned more than 32 and a
half years, one thing hasn't changed for Ashe - his love for the
Army and the United States.
"I'm not retiring from the Army - I can't. I'll be a Soldier for
the rest of my life."
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