Paul E. Funk

Paul Edward Funk (born March 10, 1940)[2][3] is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as Commanding General, III Corps from 1993 to 1995.[4] He was previously Commanding General, U.S. Army Armor Center and Fort Knox from 1992 to 1993 and Commanding General, 3rd Armored Division during the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991.[5]

For his son, see Paul E. Funk II. For the Austrian mathematician, see Paul Funk.
Paul E. Funk
Funk as a major general, 1991
Nickname(s)Butch[1]
Born (1940-03-10) March 10, 1940
Roundup, Montana, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1962–1996
RankLieutenant General
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards
ChildrenGEN Paul E. Funk II (son)

Early life and education

Born in 1940, Funk was raised in Montana. He attended Montana State University (MSU), graduating with a B.S. degree in animal science, as well as the Armed Forces Staff College and United States Army War College.[5] Funk later earned a master's degree in psychological counseling and a Ed.D. degree, both from Montana State.[6][7] His March 1973 doctoral thesis was entitled A descriptive analysis of selected intrapersonal characteristics of drug abusers.[8]

Military career
Funk (left) assumes command of III Corps on October 26, 1993

Funk entered the Army via the ROTC program at Montana State University. Originally a cavalry officer, Funk transferred to the Armor branch when the Cavalry separated into aviation and armored components in 1983.[9][5] Departing active duty after completing his official two-year commitment, he rejoined within six months, receiving assignment to Germany. He was executive officer and then commander of Apache Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War in 1969.[5][9]

His assignments include being Commanding General, National Training Center and Fort Irwin; Assistant Division Commander, 9th Infantry Division; Commander, 194th Separate Armored Brigade; Vice Director of Operations, Joint Staff and Assistant Commandant, United States Army Armor School.[5] He was confirmed for promotion to brigadier general on July 31, 1985.[10]

Funk served as the penultimate commanding general of the 3rd Armored Division from December 1990 to April 1991. In this capacity, he became the first commander to lead the division in combat since World War II, during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait.[9] Afterwards, he commanded the United States Army Armor Center and Fort Knox from June 1992 to October 1993.[5]

Funk was confirmed by the Senate for promotion to lieutenant general on October 25, 1993, effective November 1, 1993.[11][12] His final assignment was as commanding general of III Corps from October 1993 to December 1995.[13] His retirement as a lieutenant general was approved on December 5, 1995, with an official retirement date of January 1, 1996.[5][14]

His military honors include the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters) and Distinguished Flying Cross.[5][7]

Personal life and family

Funk is the son of Paul Golberg Funk and LaVerna Christina (Charlton) Funk. He has two brothers and a sister.[2][3] He married Sheila Ann "Danny" Brown on July 21, 1961, in Gallatin County, Montana.[3][6]

Funk's pastime is rearing Hereford cattle. In his youth, he owned a small herd of them while employed by the ES Bar Ranch near Roundup (his place of birth), but was forced to sell them to fund his education at Montana State. He returned to the cattle trade upon retirement from the Army, purchasing his first Hereford bull in 1997.[5]

His son, Paul E. Funk II, is an Army four-star general who commanded III Corps from 2017 to 2019, making them the first father-son duo to lead the unit. Through his son's wife, Elizabeth Yeosock, he is related to Army lieutenant general John J. Yeosock.[1][4]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul E. Funk.
  1. Bryant, David (January 4, 2017). "Fathers, sons commanding same major Army unit rare, but it happens". Killeen Daily Herald.
  2. "Paul Edward Funk". Birth Records, 1860-1988. Helena, Montana: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
  3. "Paul Edward Funk". County Marriage Records, 1865-1967. Helena, Montana: Montana State Historical Society.
  4. Bonzo, Madison (July 9, 2020). "General Funk's Army legacy". Fort Hood Sentinel. TRADOC Public Affairs.
  5. Denton, Angie Stump (July 2013). "Selfless Service" (PDF).
  6. "MSU alum named commander of coalition in fight against the Islamic State". Montana State University. October 17, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  7. "This Week's Speaker - 11 Nov 11". Rotary Club of Killeen Heights. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  8. Funk, Paul Edward (March 1973). A descriptive analysis of selected intrapersonal characteristics of drug abusers (PDF) (Thesis). Montana State University. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  9. "Lieutenant General(R) Paul Funk". Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  10. "PN477 — Army, 99th Congress (1985-1986)". U.S. Congress. July 25, 1985. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  11. "PN647 — Maj. Gen. Paul E. Funk — Army, 103rd Congress (1993-1994)". U.S. Congress. September 14, 1993. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  12. Defense Technical Information Center (May 10, 1995). "Department of Defense General/Flag Officer Worldwide Roster (March 1995)" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Washington Headquarters Services. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  13. The Phanton Warrior Standard for Every Service Member: Past III Corps Commanders. Fort Hood Public Affairs, U.S. Army. October 6, 2011. p. 167. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  14. "PN710 — Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk — Army, 104th Congress (1995-1996)". November 3, 1995. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
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