Iraq War General Ray Odierno has passed away from cancer at age 67

[basquebromance]

woah, cancer sucks!

Gen. Ray Odierno, Former Army Chief and Iraq Commander, Dies at 67

The height of Odierno's nearly 40-year military career was serving as Army chief of staff from 2011 to 2015.

www.military.com

 

[Man of Ethics]

Very sad. RIP General.

 

[whitehall]

Relatively young to die of cancer but the obit offers no clue.

 

[basquebromance]

 

[basquebromance]

Gen. Odierno fondly remembered as ‘a giant’

The former general died of cancer at the age of 67.

www.politico.com

“Ray was a giant in military circles — dedicated first and always to the service members he commanded and served alongside,” President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden said in a statement. “And through almost four decades of service to our nation in uniform, he helped grow the United States Army into the modern fighting force it is today.”

The Bidens noted that Odierno was in command when their late son, Beau, was serving in Iraq.

“When we think back on our time as Vice President and Second Lady, Ray was part of some of our most poignant memories — ones that will be with us for the rest of our lives,” the Bidens wrote.

“Ray Odierno was such a powerful, positive, uplifting person,” said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “He dedicated his life’s work to serving others and his was a life well lived. He will be missed by all who had the privilege to know him and serve with him.”

Stars and Stripes, the military’s longtime chronicle of its own, said, “An imposing figure, at 6-5 and 250 pounds, with a shaved head, Gen. Raymond Odierno had an affable nature and developed a strong rapport with his troops. He was considered one of the Army’s most capable battlefield leaders.“

 

[basquebromance]

Relatively young to die of cancer but the obit offers no clue.

Raymond Odierno, Army general who commanded in Iraq, dies at 67

“The general died after a brave battle with cancer; his death was not related to COVID,” a family statement said.

www.politico.com

“The general died after a brave battle with cancer; his death was not related to COVID,” a family statement said. “There are no other details to share at this time. His family is grateful for the concern and asks for privacy.”

 

[basquebromance]

"Odierno served three tours in Iraq. After his first, in 2003-04 as commander of the 4th Infantry Division, he was criticized by some for overly aggressive tactics that some believed fed an insurgency. At an early high water mark, in December 2003, his soldiers involved in the capture of Iraq’s deposed president, Saddam Hussein. That success gave hope to quashing an emerging insurgency, but in 2004 the insurgency gained greater momentum and led to the deadly rise of al-Qaida in Iraq.

Odierno returned to Iraq in 2008 and served for two years as served as commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq. He then took over as the top overall U.S. and coalition commander in Baghdad, leaving in 2010 as combat was winding down. He was succeeded in that post by Gen. Lloyd Austin, who is now the secretary of defense."