Obituaries

Frank Sackton

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Born: August 11, 1912

Died: February 14, 2010

Services: Memorial service with military honors to be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlingon, VA at a future date.

Visitation: No visitation

Retired Army Lieut. General Frank J. Sackton, 97, of Scottsdale, AZ, passed away February 14, 2010. Born August 11, 1912 in Chicago, IL, he served in the Illinois National Guard for 10 years and in the regular Army for 30 years. He retired in 1970 after serving his last four years as the Comptroller of the Army.
General Sackton served in every troop unit from the Infantry squad to command of an Army Corps. During WWII he participated in the battle of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, New Guinea, Moratai in the Celebes, and Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines. During the Luzon campaign he was awarded a battlefield promotion to the grade of Colonel.
After the war he was assigned to Tokyo where he became Secretary of the General Staff for General MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan. Other assignments were on the Army General Staff in Washington as Chief of the European Area of Operations, Deputy Chief for the Army Operations, and Secretary of the Army General Staff.
General Sackton also served as Chief of the Army Mission to Turkey, and Chief Planning Officer for the task force that detonated the first hydrogen bomb in 1952. Subsequently he served as Deputy Chief for Planning for the Joint Chief of Staff.
His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, Legion of Merit (5 awards), Bronze Star (3 awards), Air Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.
After retirement from the Army, General Sackton came to Arizona where he served for four years as special assistant to Governor Jack Williams and became a member the faculty of Arizona State University in 1976. In addition to teaching as a Professor of Public Affairs, he served as founding Dean of the College of Public Programs, Vice President for Business Affairs, and Director of Strategic Planning.
He was a member of the state Personnel Board for five years, member of the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council for 11 years, the American Legion and the Military Order of the World Wars.
In 2003, General Sackton was inducted into The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame by Gov. Napolitano and in 2008 he was greatly honored by the Commanding General of The Infantry at Fort Benning, GA, and the President of the National Infantry Association, by being inducted into the Order of St. Maurice – the Patron Saint of the Infantry. The design of the engraved bronze medal goes back to 287 AD and the Roman Legion.
In keeping with his wishes, local services will be private. A Memorial Service with full military honors will be conducted at Fort Myer, Virginia at a future date. General Sackton will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery alongside his wife, June Sackton, who passed away in 2002.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Scholarship Fund, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-0603, or the Westminster Assistance Fund, Westminster Village, 12000 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.

Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery (Map)

Location: Indian School Mortuary (Map)



Posted at: 2/23/2010 12:45:28 PM By:

Janet Osterberg-Finegan

Email Address: janet.finegan@verizon.net

I worked for Gen. Sackton when he was Commander of the XIV Army Corp in Minneapolis back in 1962. He was beloved by everyone from janitor to secretary to officer. I last saw him in Washington in 1965 on my way to a foreign service assignment in Geneva.

He was truly one of America's finest. He lived an exemplary live and it was my honor and delight to have known him for a brief time.

May he rest in peace with a resounding well done.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Posted at: 2/22/2010 1:15:21 PM By:

Charles M. Scott, Jr.

Email Address: redscott53@aol.com

This nation has lost a giant. General Sackton was a patriot, soldier, public servant and educator without equal. He epitomized the American experience. As a son of emigrant parents he rose to the highest levels in the Army, civil government and academia.

As a Army War College student I was priveledged to team with General Sackton on an Army Historical Office Oral History program on his experiences. The two of us participated in 10 conferences that totaled 13 hours of his recollections of his life, military, government and academic endeavors.

He was truly an American giant in every field he entered. Along with June, rest in honored peace, General Sackton.

BG (R) Charles M. 'Red' Scott, Jr.
Skull Valley, AZ

Posted at: 2/22/2010 11:14:38 AM By:

Ann Bergin

Email Address: abergin@asu.edu

The flag in my heart is at half mast. I remember Frank's daily greeting--no matter what the circumstance--Beautiful day! I try to say it to myself every morning in his memory. His stories are legendary--I hope someone has a collection of the columns he wrote for the Scottsdale Progress. He had no idea how many lives he touched. A life well lived!

Posted at: 2/21/2010 8:49:23 PM By:

Marilyn Wahl

Email Address: cmhackett@cox.net

A remarkable man.

Posted at: 2/21/2010 12:56:25 PM By:

Ramona Ortega-Liston

Email Address: ramona3@uakron.edu

Dear Sackton family: Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. I had a long friendship with Frank at ASU and he was among the first to support my campaign for the U.S. Congress in 1994. Frank will be missed by many people and I am one of them. He was a patriot, scholar, and a gentleman. Sincerely, Ramona Ortega-Liston.

Posted at: 2/21/2010 12:16:48 PM By:

Robert D. Beeman

Email Address: robert.beeman@asu.edu

We are so sorry about General Sacktons passing. I had the privilege of working with him at A.S.U.. He was a gentleman, a scholar, a role model a mentor, and a friend. He will be greatly missed by all those with whom he came in contact.
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