FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASE NO. 33-07

KROESEN TO RECEIVE THAYER AWARD – Sept. 14, 2007

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Retired Gen. Frederick J. Kroesen, Jr., will receive the prestigious Thayer Award in a ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy Thursday, Sept.20. The Corps of Cadets will conduct a review in his honor at 5 p.m. on the Plain prior to the award presentation during a dinner ceremony. The review is open to the public.

Kroesen, a native of Phillipsburg, N.J., spent his boyhood and high school years in that state and attended Rutgers University where he participated in its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program. He was called to active duty as an enlisted man in 1943 and in August, 1944, attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., where he was commissioned a second lieutenant.

Kroesen served in numerous command positions during his 41 year career in the Army. He served with distinction and held numerous positions to include Commanding General of the 82^nd Airborne Division; VII Corps in Germany; U.S. Army Forces Command; Vice Chief of Staff of the Army; Commander in Chief, U.S. Army Europe and Commander, Central Army Group, NATO.

He was wounded in all four wars in which he served -- World War II, Korean War,

Vietnam War and the Cold War.

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KROESEN TO RECEIVE THAYER AWARD – 2/2/2

The Thayer Award, established in honor of Col. Sylvanus Thayer, “Father of the Military Academy,” is presented to an outstanding citizen whose service and accomplishments in the national interest exemplify the Military Academy motto, “Duty, Honor, Country.” The Association of Graduates has presented the award annually since 1958.

Past recipients of the Thayer Award include: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, Bob Hope, Neil Armstrong, George Bush, Barbara Jordon, Walter Cronkite, Colin Powell and Henry Kissinger. Last year’s recipient was news correspondent Tom Brokaw.

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