When Frank and his wife, Jennifer, settled in Indian Lakes after moving from Iowa in 2018, they found exactly what they were looking for—a peaceful community surrounded by nature. Today, they enjoy life with their children, Ann, Sophia, and Henry, while celebrating the accomplishments of their growing family. Their oldest daughter, Celia, is a senior at Iowa State University and serves as Wing Commander of the 250th Wing Detachment in Air Force ROTC. Their oldest son, James, and his wife, Natalie, live in Royse City with the family’s newest source of joy, granddaughter Elizabeth Ruth.
Both Frank and Jennifer are veterinarians at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, continuing careers centered on caring for others. For Frank, however, service has always extended far beyond veterinary medicine.
Inspired by “God and Country,” Frank enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1988, beginning what would become an extraordinary 27-year military career.
His first assignment took him to Neu Ulm, Germany, serving in Field Artillery with the Pershing unit. Later assignments included Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, the Iowa Army National Guard, and eventually service as a Veterinary Corps officer in both Illinois and Iowa. Along the way, his military career carried him across the globe, with deployments and humanitarian missions to Germany, Nicaragua, Jamaica, the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Indian Reservations, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Botswana, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
During the first half of his military career, Frank served in the Ordnance Corps as a heavy wheel vehicle mechanic, rising through the enlisted ranks to Staff Sergeant. After becoming a veterinarian, he was commissioned into the Veterinary Corps, where he was responsible for food inspection and the care of military working dogs. In 2015, he retired with the rank of Major after nearly three decades of distinguished service.
When asked what he treasures most from those years, Frank doesn’t point to medals or promotions. Instead, he values the certificates of achievement and heartfelt thank-you letters he received from family members, friends, schoolchildren, and civilian colleagues—reminders that service leaves an impact far beyond the battlefield.
One of his favorite memories is much simpler than many might expect: sharing pizza with fellow soldiers while sitting atop a tank turret at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, with the self-proclaimed “Ravenous Dogs” Thursday night pizza crew. It’s a reminder that lifelong friendships are often forged in the most unexpected places.
Military life also shaped the principles Frank still carries with him every day.
“Coffee is good in the morning,” he jokes, before adding the lesson that truly matters: “Leadership over likership.”
His wife, Jennifer, offers perhaps the most meaningful perspective on the sacrifices military families make.
“The biggest sacrifice was time and moments away from family during deployments,” she says. “However, ‘sacrifice’ suggests that we gave something up. We consider it more of an exchange. What we received in return was immense pride in Frank’s service to and security of this country while carrying on a long history of military service in both our families.”
For young people considering military service, Frank’s advice is simple: “Check it out! There are great opportunities in all branches of military service.”
Today, Frank and Jennifer are grateful to call Indian Lakes home, where they enjoy the quiet surroundings, neighborhood trails, and the clubhouse and lake. After decades spent serving both country and community, they’ve found a place where they can enjoy the rewards of a life dedicated to helping others.
As we honor the veterans among us, Frank’s story reminds us that service isn’t defined solely by where we go or what rank we achieve. It’s reflected in the lives we touch, the people we lead, and the example we leave for the next generation.
