MAJOR
GENERAL FRANK MARION DENTON
Army of the United States-Retired
Maj. Gen. Frank M. Denton was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, February 22, 1935 and now
resides in New Orleans, Louisiana. There, in 1959, he received a Bachelor of Science in
Civil Engineering degree from Tulane University.
Denton's military education includes the Basic Airborne and Infantry Officer Advance
Courses at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Engineer Officer Orientation Course at Fort Belvoir,
Virginia; the Special Forces Officer and Special Forces Jumpmaster Courses at Fort Bragg,
North Carolina; the Command and General Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; the
Senior Reserve Component Officer Course at the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks,
Pennsylvania; and the Joint Flag Officer Warfighter Course at the Air War College, Maxwell
Air Force Base, Alabama.
Denton enlisted in the Regular Army in August, 1952 and served with the Army of
Occupation (Germany) until July, 1955. After separation from active duty he joined the
Louisiana Army National Guard. General Denton served in a variety of command and staff
positions, in both the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, including artillery forward
observer, engineer and infantry platoon leader, engineer company commander, and commander
of Special Forces A and B Detachments. In March, 1979 he was assigned as Commander, 205th
Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy). He then was Commander, 225th Engineer Group from
September 1981 to January 1983.
In January 1983 Denton was assigned as Deputy Commander of the 256th infantry Brigade,
a Roundout brigade with wartime assignment to the Fifth Infantry Division (Mechanized),
Fort Polk, LA. He then commanded the brigade from July 1984, being promoted to Brigadier
General in February, 1985.
In September 1987, he was appointed Deputy Commanding General (Reserve Components),
Fifth United States Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. and promoted to Major General in
March, 1988. He served (1988-92) as Fifth Army representative on Army Reserve Forces
Policy Committee (ARFPC), Secretariat of the Army in Washington, DC.
In April, 1992, Denton was assigned as Special Assistant to the Commander in Chief, U.
S. Forces Command, Fort Macpherson, Georgia, to advise and assist the BOLD SHIFT Task
Force. On July 15, 1992, Major General Denton was retired from the Army National Guard.
His decorations and awards include: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with
Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal,
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army of Occupation (Germany) Medal, National
Defense Service Medal (with Star), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with three ten year hour
glass devices), Army Service Ribbon, Reserve Components Overseas Service Ribbon, Master
Parachutist Badge, and Special Forces Tab. The State of Louisiana awarded the Louisiana
Distinguished Service Medal, Louisiana Cross of Merit, Louisiana Commendation Medal,
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal (with three fleur-de-lis), and the Louisiana Longevity
Medal (with silver fleur-de-lis).
In 1988, the Louisiana State Legislature passed a joint resolution commending Denton's
service to the State and Nation. He served (1992-96) on the Governor's Advisory Commission
for Military Affairs.