Frank Helmick

Frank Helmick (born April 29, 1953) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. He is the former commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps. From February to December 2011, he additionally served as the deputy commanding general for operations, United States Forces – Iraq. Prior to assuming command of the XVIII Airborne Corps, LTG Helmick commanded the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq along with the NATO Training Mission-Iraq from July 3, 2008, to October 7, 2009.

Helmick has held numerous command and senior staff positions. He has commanded and served in many units in both operational and training commands: Commander 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Commander Ranger Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia; Assistant Division Commander 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Commander of the Southern European Task Force (Airborne), Vicenza, Italy.

His staff assignments include service in the 82nd Airborne Division, the Joint Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he served as the Senior Military Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Career

Iraq War Helmick was the commander who led the attack in Mosul that killed Uday and Qusay Hussein, Saddam Hussein's sons.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) watch as a TOW missile strikes the side of a building that was suspected of harboring Uday and Qusay Hussein in Mosul, Iraq, July 22, 2003. Uday and Qusay were killed in a gun battle as they resisted efforts by coalition forces to apprehend and detain them.

On August 24, 2008, Helmick survived a suicide bombing of the MRAP vehicle he was riding in near Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul. The suicide car bomb attack killed the attacker and damaged the International MaxxPro Plus vehicle, but Helmick, Brigadier General Raymond "Tony" Thomas, an Iraqi general and others inside the vehicle were not seriously injured.

Personal life Helmick has attended a variety of military schools including the United States Military Academy, Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the Naval Postgraduate School, the United States Armed Forces Staff Course at the Armed Forces Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Awards and decorations

Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clustersDistinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit with two oak leaf clustersBronze Star Medal with oak leaf clusterMeritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clustersJoint Service Commendation MedalArmy Commendation Medal with silver oak leaf clusterArmy Achievement Medal with oak leaf clusterGood Conduct MedalJoint Meritorious Unit AwardArmy Superior Unit AwardNational Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalIraq Campaign Medal with three campaign starsGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmy Service RibbonOverseas Service RibbonNATO Medal (Kosovo)Multinational Force and Observers Medal

Assignments

Effective dates of promotion