15 Facts About Frederick Kroesen

Frederick Kroesen served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1978 to 1979.

Frederick Kroesen commanded troops in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, enabling him to be one of the very small number who ever was entitled to wear the Combat Infantryman Badge with two Stars, denoting active combat in three wars.

Kroesen was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, the son of Jean and Frederick Kroesen, who worked for the New Jersey state government.

Frederick Kroesen earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in International Affairs at George Washington University.

In 1944 Frederick Kroesen was commissioned through the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, then fought in World War II with the 254th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry Division.

Frederick Kroesen was the commander of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade of the 23rd Infantry Division in 1968.

Frederick Kroesen was an adviser to the assistant chief of staff, J-3, in Vietnam, and then served there as commander of the 23rd Infantry Division; deputy commander, XXIV Corps; and commanding general, First Regional Assistance Command.

In 1976 Frederick Kroesen was promoted to the rank of four star general, becoming the first Officer Candidate School graduate to hold that rank.

Frederick Kroesen then served as Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command and Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

From 1979 to 1983 Frederick Kroesen served as commander of United States Army Europe and a commander of the Seventh United States Army.

Frederick Kroesen was injured in Heidelberg on 15 September 1981, when his armoured Mercedes was targeted with an RPG-7 anti-tank rocket.

Frederick Kroesen was chairman of the board of Military Professional Resources Inc and a senior fellow at the Institute of Land Warfare of the Association of the United States Army.

Frederick Kroesen was a vice-president of the American Security Council Foundation.

General Frederick Kroesen was a Compatriot of the George Washington Chapter of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution based on the service of his ancestor, Johannes Frederick Kroesen, who served as a second lieutenant in the Bucks County Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War.

Frederick Kroesen died in Alexandria, Virginia, on 30 April 2020, at the age of 97 after a long illness.