As the buildup continued, Schwarzkopf was occupied with planning an offensive operation against the Iraqi units along the border, sometimes working 18-hour days in planning, assisted by a close group of aides. Bryan D. Brown 10. [69] Schwarzkopf was named deputy commander of the invasion at the last minute, leaving him with little say in the planning. Ricks further criticized Schwarzkopf for failing to relieve General Frederick M. Franks Jr. as well as other subordinates who Schwarzkopf said, in his memoirs, were ineffective. The parents of one soldier blamed him for the death of their son, a claim that Schwarzkopf strongly denied and termed an accident of war. By 1951 he had returned to Iran briefly before returning to the United States. [126] In 2004, he was critical of Donald Rumsfeld and his handling of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee in March 1989, Schwarzkopf maintained that the Soviet Union was a threat to the region, but when giving an overview of the countries in the region, he noted that Iraq posed a threat to its weaker neighbors. [121] Schwarzkopf indicated a desire to retire from the military in mid-1991. "[137] Atkinson further contended that in his leadership during the Gulf War, Schwarzkopf conducted one of the greatest military campaigns of all time, providing the United States with its "first battlefield hero in decades. General William Westmoreland later arrived to review the incident and congratulate Schwarzkopf. [64] He returned to Washington, DC, for an assignment as director of personnel management for the Army, subordinate to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, General Maxwell R. [104][105] Schwarzkopf sent a prepared statement to the troops ahead of the first airstrikes, which were timed to hit their targets at 02:40. ", In 1946, when Norman Schwarzkopf was 12, he moved with his father to Tehran, Iran. His plan for direct and overwhelming force was initially criticized in Washington as uncreative. In May 1989, he gave the commencement address at the Valley Forge Military Academy. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! [14][15] His continuous absence made home life difficult, particularly for his wife. [77] Schwarzkopf immediately took to changing the focus of the command, which had focused on the "Zagros Doctrine," a hypothetical ground invasion by the Soviet Union through the Zagros Mountains, which the US would counter in Iran. Schwarzkopf's strategy earned him the nickname, “Stormin Norman,” due to his strategical ingenuity. [82][83], With Fahd's consent, Bush ordered troops into Saudi Arabia on August 7, initially tasked to defend Saudi Arabia should Iraq attack. Schwarzkopf also gained a great respect for certain military leaders at West Point, notably Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman and Creighton Abrams, believing them excellent commanders who nonetheless did not glorify war. [79] One week after the end of the exercises, Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. However, he refused medical evacuation or to relinquish command until the objective had been captured and so he was awarded a second Silver Star and a Purple Heart. "[128], During his tour of duty in Vietnam, Schwarzkopf developed a reputation as a commander who preferred to lead from the front, even willing to risk his own life for his subordinates. His father was a 1917 graduate of the United States Military Academy and veteran of World War I. [45] His promotion ceremony occurred at Fort Lewis shortly after he had relinquished command of the brigade. Martin E. Dempsey 17. Nickname: Stormin' Norman Noted For: U.S. Army general. [41], By August 17, the 173rd Airborne Brigade arrived and broke the siege, ending the Battle of Đức Cơ. "[141] In his memoirs, Schwarzkopf responded to these kinds of criticisms by saying his mandate had only been to liberate and safeguard Kuwait and that an invasion of Iraq would have been highly controversial, particularly among Middle Eastern military allies. He was an actor, known for The American President (2000), Brats: Our Journey Home (2006) and The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm (2001). Probably the most anti-war people I know are Army officers—but if we do have a war, I think it's going to be limited in nature like Vietnam and Korea. In December 1969, he gained his first field command, taking over the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 198th Infantry Brigade at Chu Lai. Former president George H.W. Bantz J. Craddock 16. By November 8, Bush agreed to commit 400,000 US troops to Saudi Arabia at Schwarzkopf's insistence. Lieutenant General Charles Horner, USAF, ran the headquarters in Riyadh. If that happens, it's inevitably going to be nuclear weapons and the whole thing. [113] He ordered his forces to destroy as much Iraqi armor and equipment as possible to ensure the weakening of Iraq's offensive capability in the near term. [146] However, several high-profile reports publicized the CENTCOM strategy. [117][118], For his services during the war, he was welcomed back to America with a large parade down Broadway in New York, along with other honors. Kevin P. Chilton 13. W.H. These also had the side effect of distracting the public from focusing on U.S. casualty counts or the destruction wrought in the war. [17] In Iran, Norman learned shooting, horseback riding, and hunting. (The "H" stood for Herbert, a name Schwarzkopf senior hated so much he only gave his son the initial.) [16] As a 10-year-old cadet at Bordentown Military Institute, near Trenton, he posed for his official photograph wearing a stern expression because, as he said afterwards, "Some day when I become a general, I want people to know that I'm serious. He was then called to an emergency meeting with US President George H. W. Bush, where his Internal Look '90 strategic plans were made the basis of a potential counteroffensive plan. Schwarzkopf's speaking fees topped $60,000 per public appearance. Schwarzkopf commanded Operation Desert Storm, successfully driving out Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991. [89] Schwarzkopf arrived at the CENTCOM command in Riyadh on August 25,[90] and on August 29, he conducted his first front-line tour of the potential combat zone, accompanied by reporters. Schwarzkopf graduated from West Point and … General Norman Schwarzkopf Dies, Aged 78. After the war, Schwarzkopf and his family accompanied his father to Iran for work. James Meredith is a civil rights activist who became the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi in 1962. In doing so, another mine was set off, killing three and wounding Schwarzkopf's artillery officer. Schwarzkopf and his group fought continuously for several days. In 1991, Schwarzkopf led Operation Desert Storm, the U.S. military effort to liberate Kuwait. [114] Schwarzkopf, who had ordered a media blackout during the ground offensive, finally appeared before journalists on February 27 to explain his strategy. He would usually not attack media coverage, even if negative, unless he felt it was blatantly incorrect. War is a profanity, it really is. [65] Schwarzkopf was promoted to major general. Commander in Gulf War, Dies at 78", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", "Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf Biography Photo", "1993 Salute to Excellence, Stars of today and tomorrow meet in Glacier", United States Army Center for Military History, Barbara Walters Interview with General Schwarzkopf, Coalition commander in the Persian Gulf War, General H. 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"[138] The later accomplishments of General Tommy Franks during Operation Enduring Freedom were compared favorably with those of Schwartzkopf. [140], In a 2012 book, historian Thomas E. Ricks wrote Schwarzkopf's lack of experience with politics were disadvantageous to his conduct of the war. When he took command during the Gulf War, he sought an entirely different strategy, which was ultimately successful by favoring greater media coverage but subject to strict controls on the battlefield. He was later questioned about running for political office, but, considering himself an independent, expressed little interest in doing so. [42][43] On February 14, 1966, Schwarzkopf led an ARVN paratrooper assault on a Viet Cong position, during which he was wounded four times by small arms fire. He declined to measure the success of the campaign by counting suspected Iraqi casualties, believing that would undermine his credibility. He became a general in the late 1970s and served as the deputy commander of the U.S. forces during the 1983 invasion of Grenada. He was quick to award praise and medals to the troops, part of what he saw as restoring pride in the US armed forces after the Vietnam War. [50] He also showed a preference of leading from the front and prided himself on avoiding the rear areas, which he called a "cesspool. [139] However, in an analysis of the effects of the Gulf War, several historians, including Spencer C. Tucker, contended that Schwarzkopf's ceasefire agreement allowed Iraq to continue to fly armed helicopters, which allowed it to later conduct operations against its Shia Arab and Kurdish populations. On March 3, he arrived in Kuwait City to survey the aftermath of the Iraqi occupation and negotiate a ceasefire with Iraqi military leaders and to work out the return of prisoners of war on both sides. [62], In July 1978, Schwarzkopf became deputy director of plans at the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. More than that, he was a good and decent man, and a dear friend." [126], Schwarzkopf endorsed George W. Bush in the 2000 U.S. presidential election and the 2004 U.S. presidential election. [Note 2] He was also a member of Mensa. His connection with the Persian Gulf region began at an early age. Although a medevac was on its way, Schwarzkopf ordered his UH-1 Huey to remove the wounded. [145] Schwarzkopf's strategy was to control the message being sent and so he ordered media on the battlefield to be escorted at all times. While much will be written in coming days of his many accomplishments, his most lasting and important legacies are the tremendous soldiers he trained and led. He oversaw the strikes from his war room in Riyadh, emerged from his command center late in the day on January 18 to speak to the press, and said the air war had gone "just about exactly as we had intended it to go." He was married to Brenda Holsinger. He became an instantly recognisable figure during the … Schwarzkopf was presented with military honors. General Norman Schwarzkopf who commanded allied forces in the 1991 Gulf war has died at the age of 78 in Tampa, Florida. The public loved his often-humorous depictions of American life. [106], The air campaign proved to be a success by achieving air superiority and destroying the Iraqi military's communications network, supplies, and many tanks and armored vehicles. Schwarzkopf had served as a battalion commander during the war. [6] His mother was a housewife from West Virginia who was distantly related to Thomas Jefferson. He died in Florida in December 2012. As he attempted to help the troops back out of the field, one soldier struck a landmine, breaking a leg, and began to panic. Scott C. Black 5. He was an actor, known for The American President (2000), Brats: Our Journey Home (2006) and The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm (2001). Schwarzkopf was cremated and his ashes were buried near those of his father in the West Point Cemetery in a ceremony attended by cadets, military leaders, New York and New Jersey State Police Troopers. Looking back further, we find the name Schwarzkopf was originally derived from the Old German words "schwartz," meaning "black," and "kopf," meaning "head." A highly decorated United States Army officer, he is best remembered as the Commander of US Central Command, and was commanded the coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War, from which he received the nickname "Stormin' Norman." In some press conferences, he showed and explained advanced war-fighting technology that the U.S. possessed to impress the public. Schwarzkopf supported a number of charities, including children's organizations. Most of the US and allied forces, however, were not combat veterans, and Schwarzkopf and the other allied commanders wanted to fight cautiously to minimize casualties. Nobody is more anti-war than an intelligent person who's been to war. Nicknamed "Stormin' Norman," General Norman Schwarzkopf was known for his fiery temper and his keen strategic mind. Ricks said that Schwarzkopf was overly cautious in the execution of his plans because of his fear of repeating mistakes in Vietnam, which meant his troops failed to destroy the Iraqi Republican Guard. [125] A memorial service was conducted on February 28, 2013, at the Cadet Chapel at West Point, which was attended by Colin Powell, Schwarzkopf's family, and others. He and his troops managed to drive out Saddam Hussein's forces in only six weeks. Fearing that he would set off another landmine, Schwarzkopf pinned the soldier to the ground while another soldier put a splint on the wounded man's leg. Schwarzkopf was highly decorated in Vietnam and was awarded three Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, and the Legion of Merit. William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States, fulfilled a lifelong dream when he was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court, becoming the only person to have served as both a U.S. chief justice and president. The military leader who earned the nickname Stormin' Norman was 78 years old. [79] In early 1990, he drafted a war plan, Operations Plan 1002-90, titled "Defense of the Arabian Peninsula," which envisioned an Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia through Kuwait. The operation was plagued by logistical difficulties, exacerbated by poor communication and lack of co-operation between the branches of the United States military. [112][115][116] With this in place, he then began the process of overseeing U.S. troops returning from the conflict. [121], Following his retirement, Schwarzkopf attained a status as celebrity, and was highly praised in the news media. Schwarzkopf earned a Masters of Engineering at the University of Southern California. Let’s start with General Norman Schwarzkopf. In July 1959, Schwarzkopf was assigned his first overseas assignment; as a staff officer alternating with duties as a platoon leader, liaison officer, and reconnaissance platoon leader[36] with the 6th Infantry Regiment in West Germany. During the war, Schwarzkopf became famous for his straightforward style and his short temper. [119] His accomplishments were praised very differently from commanders who returned from the Vietnam and Korean Wars. A hard-driving military commander with a strong temper, Schwarzkopf was considered an exceptional leader by many biographers and was noted for his abilities as a military diplomat and in dealing with the press. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. (August 22, 1934 – December 27, 2012) was the Commander of the U.S. Central Command that delivered a decisive victory over Saddam Hussein's Iraq in the first Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm.In a little over 7 months he liberated Kuwait as mandated by U.N. resolution 678. His dealings with the press were thus frequent and very personal, and he conducted regular briefings for journalists. On February 17, 1970, two men in C Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry were killed by friendly fire from an American artillery shell that had been ordered by Schwarzkopf but had struck a tree near their position on its way to a target. "[2][51], During this second tour, Schwarzkopf noted two incidents that haunted him. [124] Schwarzkopf sold the rights to his memoirs to Bantam Books for $5,000,000. "[78] With regional turmoil growing, Schwarzkopf became concerned about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, focusing the attention of his command to prepare to respond to what he thought was a "more realistic scenario." Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Schwarzkopf grew up in the United States and later in Iran. [93], Initially, Operation Desert Shield involved a sea interdiction campaign that saw international warships detaining and inspecting tankers from Iraq. [80], Initially believing that the Iraqi Army would advance only to the Rumailah oil field, Schwarzkopf was surprised when the Iraqis captured Kuwait City. In 1968, he attended the Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, completing the course in June 1969. He was involved in an incident where the colonel commanding the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit initially refused to fly Army troops in Marine helicopters. He was assigned as executive officer to the chief of staff at MACV headquarters, based at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. [44] Schwarzkopf later recalled this second tour of duty was very different from his first; there were now 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam, the strategy of Vietnamization was in full effect, and recent events such as the Tet Offensive and My Lai Massacre had put US combat troops under increased political scrutiny. [61] Having been very successful in improving the combat readiness of the 1st Brigade, he was nominated to receive his first star as a brigadier general. He later said that the troops were initially demoralized and in poor condition, racked with rampant drug use and disciplinary problems as well as a lack of support from home. Norman Schwarzkopf was born on August 22, 1934 in Trenton, New Jersey, USA as Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. Auden was a British poet, author and playwright best known as a leading literary figure in the 20th century for his poetry. Schwarzkopf later recounted many officers and NCOs he met in the assignment "had no sense of duty or honor, and who saw the world through an alcoholic haze. [11][12], Norman Schwarzkopf was described by childhood friends as active and assertive, protective of his sisters and a skilled athlete. Ann E. Dunwoody 21. The name Schwarzkopf is a nickname type of surname for a person with black hair. After diplomatic relations broke down, he planned and led Operation Desert Storm, an extended air campaign followed by a highly successful 100-hour ground offensive, which defeated the Iraqi Army and liberated Kuwait in early 1991. Initially tasked with defending Saudi Arabia from Iraqi aggression, Schwarzkopf's command eventually grew to an international force of over 750,000 troops. [84] U.S. commanders from the beginning wanted a quick conflict characterized by decisive, overwhelming force, as opposed to the gradual escalation of U.S. involvement as had been seen in Vietnam. Nicknamed "Stormin' Norman," General Norman Schwarzkopf was known for his fiery temper and his keen strategic mind. On July 1, 1986, he was promoted to lieutenant general, and was reassigned to Fort Lewis as commander of I Corps. The good relationship between the allied commanders allowed their forces to co-operate effectively during the operation. He supported John McCain in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. He was accepted by the United States Military Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1956. Nicknamed “Stormin’ Norman,” Schwarzkopf was known for being a hard, strategic commander with a temper, but earned much respect by handling the press and diplomats with poise. Limited in scope. Schwarzkopf retired shortly after the end of the war and undertook a number of philanthropic ventures, only occasionally stepping into the political spotlight before his death from complications of pneumonia. On May 28, 1970, Schwarzkopf landed his helicopter when discovering troops of B Company who had stumbled into a minefield. [121] He felt it was a mistake to send U.S. Army Reserve troops into the country without adequate training. [102], Schwarzkopf also had an agreeable relationship with his deputy commander, Lieutenant General Calvin Waller, who handled much of the administrative burden. [72] He held the post for 14 months before returning to the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans in August 1987. He died on December 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida, USA. By August 5, Bush opted for an aggressive response to the invasion. [86] By August 13, the news media began to closely cover Schwarzkopf, who had been named to lead the operation.[1]. In his plebe year he was given the nickname "Schwarzie," the same as his father, and he was often pushed by older cadets to imitate his father's radio show as a traditional act of hazing. [45], Schwarzkopf was promoted to lieutenant colonel and ordered to a second tour in Vietnam,[19] leaving in June 1969. [87] Schwarzkopf planned supply lines for the 50,000 troops initially sent to Saudi Arabia, tapping Major General William G. Pagonis as director of the logistical operations, with US Air Force cargo aircraft landing supplies at Dhahran and US Navy ships offloading troops and supplies at Dammam. [58][59] In October 1976, he moved to Fort Lewis, Washington, to command the 1st Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division,[60] where he impressed his division commander, Major General Richard E. Cavazos. [123], In 1992, Schwarzkopf published a memoir, It Doesn't Take a Hero, about his life; it became a bestseller. General Schwarzkopf retired from active duty in 1991 and wrote an autobiography entitled, “It Doesn't Take A Hero,” which published in 1992. [97] Schwarzkopf believed that more troops would reduce the likelihood of high casualties. It's terrifying. [72] As a part of his duties during the posting, he sat in on arms reduction talks with leaders from the Soviet Union. John R. Allen, USMC 3. H. Norman Schwarzkopf KCB (/ˈʃwɔrtskɒf/; 22 August 1934 – 27 December 2012), also known as Norman Schwarzkopf, was a United States Army general. The senior Schwarzkopf later became the founding Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, where he worked as a lead investigator on the … [68], On October 25, 1983, Schwarzkopf was appointed to the command group for the Invasion of Grenada.