page_title: Frank Hassett
hierarchical_section_title: Frank Hassett
caption_attribution_description: English: Prior to taking off from an airfield somewhere in Korea to take over his new command, the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), Lieutenant Colonel F. G. Hassett OBE chats with Major General A. J. H. Cassels CBE CBE DSO General Officer Commanding (GOC) Commonwealth Division, United Nations Forces in Korea. Hassett had a distinguished record as a soldier. He was a Lieutenant Colonel at 23 years of age in World War II, and received his OBE for his services. He gained the DSO for his handling of 3RAR in recent battles against the Communists Forces. In the background is a Douglas C47 Dakota RAAF transport plane.
context_page_description: General Sir Francis George "Frank" Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO was an Australian general who rose to the position of Chief of the Defence Force Staff, the professional head of the Australian Defence Force, serving in this capacity from November 1975 until April 1977. Hassett joined the Australian Army in 1935 upon gaining entrance into the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Serving with distinction in the early stages of the Second World War, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1942 at the age of 23, and posted as a staff officer for the remainder of the war.
  In 1951, Hassett was appointed to command the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in Korea, where he led the unit through some of the toughest fighting of the war. For his leadership and planning during the Battle of Maryang San, he was granted an immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order. Promoted to brigadier in 1960, Hassett commanded a brigade in Malaya for three years, before returning to Australia and serving in a variety of positions, culminating in his appointment as Chief of the General Staff with the rank of lieutenant general.
context_section_description: General Sir Francis George "Frank" Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO (11 April 1918 – 11 June 2008) was an Australian general who rose to the position of Chief of the Defence Force Staff, the professional head of the Australian Defence Force, serving in this capacity from November 1975 until April 1977. Hassett joined the Australian Army in 1935 upon gaining entrance into the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Serving with distinction in the early stages of the Second World War, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1942 at the age of 23, and posted as a staff officer for the remainder of the war.
  In 1951, Hassett was appointed to command the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in Korea, where he led the unit through some of the toughest fighting of the war. For his leadership and planning during the Battle of Maryang San, he was granted an immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order. Promoted to brigadier in 1960, Hassett commanded a brigade in Malaya for three years, before returning to Australia and serving in a variety of positions, culminating in his appointment as Chief of the General Staff with the rank of lieutenant general. Promoted to general after two years in this role, he was appointed Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, which was reorganised as Chief of the Defence Force Staff the following year. Hassett died in 2008 at the age of 90.
caption: Lieutenant Colonel Hassett at an airfield in Korea, just prior to taking command of 3RAR in July 1951
exif: {}