Mr. Two Bits
David Kratzer
Major General David E. Kratzer is a distinguished military graduate who received his ROTC Commission and Bachelor of Science degree from Western Illinois University. He also holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois. His military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Transportation Officer Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.
Major General Kratzer commanded units from company to two-star echelon above corps level. His career included three company commands, two battalion commands, command of the 3d Transportation Movement Control Agency and command of the 32d Transportation Group. General Kratzer also served as the Director of Transportation Operations for the 143d Transportation Command.
During OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Major General Kratzer deployed to Afghanistan to serve as Commanding General of Coalition Forces Land Component Command’s (CFLCC) Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force as well as the Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation, United States Embassy – Kabul. In this dual role, General Kratzer led all civil military forces operating in Afghanistan and southern Uzbekistan, secured funding for humanitarian projects designed to bring relief to the people of Afghanistan, and assisted USCENTOM in beginning the process to rebuild the Afghan army.
As Commanding General of the 377th Theater Support Command, Major General Kratzer deployed to Kuwait in October 2002 to lead CFLCC’s senior logistics command. During OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Major General Kratzer commanded all Theater level support forces with responsibility for Joint Reception, Staging, and Onward Movement of CFLCC forces. During combat and sustainment operations, the 377th TSC forces numbered 43,000 and included a Transportation Command, Medical Command, Personnel Command, Finance Command, Movement Control Agency, Material Management Center, two Military Police Brigades, four Area Support Groups, a Transportation Group, a Petroleum Group, and an Ammunition Group. These forces provided combat service and combat service support, as well as sustainment operations in Kuwait and Southern Iraq.
Awards received by Major General Kratzer include the Distinguished Service Medal (Army), Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. Major General Kratzer wears the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Army Staff Badge. MG Kratzer is a Distinguished Member of the United States Army Transportation Corps.
Following his retirement from the Army in 2006, MG Kratzer was appointed by the Chief of the United States Army Reserve as USAR Ambassador for the State of Florida. Today, MG(R) Kratzer is a member of the Advisory Board for Warrington College of Business Veterans Entrepreneurial Program and serves as senior mentor to the UF Collegiate Veteran Society. In 2016, MG Kratzer was inducted into the United States Army ROTC National Hall of Fame and in 2017 he was the recipient of the Military of the World Wars Distinguished Service Award.
