Old soldiers never die they just fade away.  Taps sounded for Frank Adams for the last time on 10 October 2022, and he joined God's ranks.  Frank was born in the little mining town of Bisbee, Arizona on 16 December 1938.  In 1940, when his father was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 11 ^th US (Horse) Cavalry he began a lifetime association and love affair with the Army.  As a youngster, during the war years, he moved frequently as his dad joined the Army Air Corps and attended pilot training.  After the War, he lived and went to school in Washington, DC, Guam, Florida, and Japan.

Frank attended the University of Arizona and, like his dad, he loved the ROTC program.  When he graduated in 1960, he was the Cadet Colonel, a Distinguished Military Graduate and received a Regular army commission in his Branch choice of Infantry.  After attending the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne training, and the Ranger course, he was assigned to the Berlin Brigade, Berlin Germany.  Frank held the position as Rifle Platoon Leader, Weapons Platoon Leader, company XO and 4.2 Mortar Platoon Commander.  He also commanded the Combat Support Company and Headquarters Company, 4 ^th Battalion, 18 ^th Infantry.

He left Berlin to attend the Infantry Officer Career Course and then, in 1965, was sent to Vietnam as Senior Advisor to the 52d Vietnamese Ranger Battalion.  From Vietnam he was assigned as an ROTC instructor at Northeast Louisiana State University in Monroe, LA. After 2 years there, it was back to Vietnam where he served as the S-3 Operations Officer for the 4 ^th Infantry Division and as Battalion S-3 35 ^th US Infantry Battalion, the CACTI.  On return to the US, he was the XO of the 2d Bn 505 ^th Airborne Bn, 18 ^th Airborne Division.  He went from Ft. Bragg to the Army's Command and General Staff College, which he completed in 1972.

It was then back to Vietnam where he was a staff officer in J3 MACV Headquarters, Saigon.  On return to the US he was assigned as the Asst. XO to the Director of Officer Personnel and then as military assistant to the Asst. Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs in the Pentagon.

In 1976, Frank traveled to Ft. Lewis where he commanded the 3d Bn, 39 ^th US Infantry for 2 years.  He then attended the Army War College at Carlisle, PA.  From there it was back to Ft. Bragg to be G-1 of the 82d Airborne Division followed by G-1 of the18 ^th Airborne Corps.  It was while he was at Ft. Bragg that he met and married the love of his life, Joanne.

Frank then went back to Berlin where he was the Deputy Brigade Commander for 3 years.  From there it was back to Ft. Lewis where he commanded the 3d Brigade, 9 ^th Infantry Division.  Frank was a splendid soldier, and exceptional leader and commander and a decorated combat Infantry man.  He was awarded 2 Silver Stars, 2 DFCs, 3 Bronze Stars with V, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Gold Palm, and 3 Purple Hearts.  He commanded 2 companies, a battalion and 2 brigades.  He was a true professional, a master of his profession and he always believed in moving to the sound of the guns.

After retirement, Frank and Joanne started what grew to be great passions, white water canoeing and rafting, which they did all over the Washington State.  After retirement, they maintained fitness at the Ft. Lewis gym, attended hundreds of cultural events, and maintained an active out-to-dinner program with friends.  They also explored the Northwest history visiting Oregon Train sites, Lewis and Clark camps, Nez Perce Indian campaigns and old military forts associated with the development of the West.

Frank is survived by his wife, Joanne.  Funeral services will be held at the National Cemetery in Kent and a Celebration of Life, dates to be announced in the future.