Raymond Odierno, the four star General who oversaw 'The Surge' in Iraq that helped dramatically reduce the insurgency in that country and helped turn the tide of the Iraq War, thus giving Obama the excuse to withdraw in 2011, died after a battle with Cancer. At six foot five and over two hundred and fifty pounds, General Ray Odierno also got the nickname "The Big O" and served thirty nine years in the military, earning his first commission after graduating from West Point in 1976.
He served around the world, including three tours in Iraq and supported the idea of "The Surge" strategy that was opposed by then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (which ultimately led to his ouster) and after Bush approved of the strategy, Odierno was made the Number Two Commander in Iraq under General David Petreaus as their new strategy did reduce the sectarian violence that was plaguing the country. In 2008, he took over as Commander of the Iraq operations from General Petreaus, and in 2011 he became the Army Chief of Staff before retiring in August of 2015.
Post military career he chaired USA Football (which oversees National High School football) and served on the boards of the Florida Panthers National Hockey Team and the University of North Carolina. He was also a Senior Security Advisor for JP Morgan. He's survived by his wife Linda, three children and four grandchildren. His oldest son Anthony, was a Captain in the US Army who lost his left arm in an RPG attack in Iraq in March of 2004.
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He served around the world, including three tours in Iraq and supported the idea of "The Surge" strategy that was opposed by then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (which ultimately led to his ouster) and after Bush approved of the strategy, Odierno was made the Number Two Commander in Iraq under General David Petreaus as their new strategy did reduce the sectarian violence that was plaguing the country. In 2008, he took over as Commander of the Iraq operations from General Petreaus, and in 2011 he became the Army Chief of Staff before retiring in August of 2015.
Post military career he chaired USA Football (which oversees National High School football) and served on the boards of the Florida Panthers National Hockey Team and the University of North Carolina. He was also a Senior Security Advisor for JP Morgan. He's survived by his wife Linda, three children and four grandchildren. His oldest son Anthony, was a Captain in the US Army who lost his left arm in an RPG attack in Iraq in March of 2004.
Former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno Dies
Retired Gen. Raymond Odierno, the former Army chief of staff who commanded U.S. forces in Iraq, died Oct. 8. He was 67. A native of Rockaway, New Jersey, Odierno, known for his tall, imposing frame, was a 1976 West Point graduate who commissioned as a field artillery officer. During more than 37...
Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, who led Iraq War ‘surge,’ dead at 67
Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, a New Jersey native and former Army chief of staff who led the successful “surge” in the Iraq War, died Friday at age 67.
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