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.