[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 186 (Friday, October 30, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1001-E1002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO RETIRED BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANK TONEY, JR., UNITED STATES 
                          ARMY SPECIAL FORCES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 30, 2020

  Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Retired Brigadier General Frank Toney, Jr., United States Army Special 
Forces, who passed away on August 6, 2020, at the age of 70.
  Frank Toney was born in Tampa, Florida, on March 1, 1950, where he 
was raised until he graduated from Henry B. Plant High School in 1968. 
He attended Arkansas State University on an athletic scholarship and 
was a part of Arkansas State's championship football team that went 
undefeated in 1970. He graduated in 1972 as a Distinguished Military 
Graduate with the Red Wolf Battalion ROTC program and received an 
active duty commission as an infantry officer with the United States 
Army.
  As a Lieutenant, Toney served with the 7th Psychological Operations 
Group, 1st Special Forces Group, and the 51st Infantry Regiment. After 
graduating the Advanced Infantry Officer Course, Captain Toney assumed 
his first company command with the highly esteemed 2nd Battalion, 75th 
Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. Following this command, 
Toney became a Special Forces officer after earning his green beret. 
Toney was then promoted to Major in 1981 and served four years with the 
5th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He graduated 
from the Command and General Staff College in 1986 and was assigned to 
the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School where his 
incredible leadership shaped the intensive Special Forces Assessment 
and Selection Course responsible for evaluating and selecting the best 
candidates to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course.
  Toney was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1989, and his leadership 
would shape special operations in the Middle East and Africa throughout 
the 1990s. He led 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group in combat 
during Operation Desert Storm. He was promoted to Colonel after 
attending the National War College and commanded the 10th Special 
Forces Group between 1992 and 1994. Toney then served as Deputy Chief 
of Staff for Operations and then as Deputy Commander of Anny Special 
Operations Command before he was promoted to Brigadier General and 
commanded all Special Operations Forces under Special Operations 
Command Central during Operation Desert Fox.
  Toney is best known as the Commander of the United States Special 
Forces Command during the initial push into Afghanistan where he 
radically shifted the Special Forces mission towards unconventional 
warfare to effectively fight the Taliban. Under his command, Special 
Forces were able to rally together and lead the Northern Alliance of 
tribes to liberate Afghanistan from the Taliban.
  Toney retired from the United States Army in January 2002, but even 
in retirement he continued to serve as an advisor upholding United 
States interests throughout Africa and the Middle East. In fact, in 
February 2012, the United States Army Special Forces Regiment 
recognized Toney as a Distinguished Member in the Regimental Honors, 
Awards, and Affiliation Program. This was an honor that had been given 
to less than 80 men before him.
  Even after he retired to Medford, Oregon, he continued to serve his 
country and the military he loved. Over the last decade, Toney assisted 
me in the assessment and recommendations of the best potential 
candidates for our nation's military service academies. His pointed and 
expert guidance in his role as Chairman for my annual Service Academy 
Nomination Boards was invaluable. He will be missed.
  Toney is survived by his wife Sally and his son, Frank Toney, also a 
United States Army Veteran. Toney's decorations and awards include the 
Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, 
the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Master and Military Free Fall 
Parachute Badges, among other distinguished awards. Overall, Toney 
dedicated more than 40 years of service to our country.

[[Page E1002]]

  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and Toney's family in 
honoring the life and service of Brigadier General Frank Toney, Jr. For 
a man of his caliber, who demonstrated superb leadership, dedication, 
and sacrifice throughout his service to our great nation, it seems no 
amount of recognition is sufficient to say thank you but he will always 
be remembered as a highly respected leader and warrior.

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