U.S. Army Central top enlisted Soldier retires

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Eric Brown | Command Sgt. Maj. Franklin Ashe, U.S. Army Central command sergeant major, makes a few remarks at his retirement ceremony immediately following the presentation of the Distinguished Service Medal for meritorious service in positions of increasing responsibility over the last ten years as a command sergeant major. The retirement ceremony, which was held at The Commons at Fort McPherson, Feb. 1, honored Ashe's more than 26 and a half years in the army.  

UNITED STATES

02.01.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Brown 

U.S. Army Central   

By Sgt. 1st Class Eric Brown
U.S. Army Central Public Affairs

FORT MCPHERSON, Ga.—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. Maj. 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 non-commissioned 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."

• Date Taken: 02.01.2008
• Date Posted: 02.01.2008 17:50
• Story ID: 15986
• Location: US