Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.

Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
source
Name	Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
Caption	Official portrait, c. 1991
Birth date	22 August 1934
Death date	27 December 2012
Birth place	Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Death place	Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States
Serviceyears	1956–1991
Rank	General
Commands	United States Central Command, United States Army Forces Command, 24th Infantry Division, 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division
Battles	Vietnam War, Operation Urgent Fury, Gulf War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2), Army Distinguished Service Medal (2), Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star (3), Purple Heart (3), Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross
Laterwork	Author, military analyst

Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. was a highly decorated United States Army general who served as Commander-in-Chief of the United States Central Command during the Gulf War. He is best known for his role as coalition commander during Operation Desert Storm, where he masterminded the rapid and decisive ground campaign that liberated Kuwait in 1991. His leadership and the overwhelming success of the operation made him a national hero and a prominent figure in modern American military history.

Early life and education

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was the son of Norman Schwarzkopf Sr., the first superintendent of the New Jersey State Police who led the investigation into the Lindbergh kidnapping. His early years were spent in the United States and Iran, where his father served as a military advisor. He attended the Valley Forge Military Academy and College before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He later earned a Master of Science in Mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California.

Military career

His early assignments included tours in West Germany and at the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning. He served two tours during the Vietnam War, first as an advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and later as a battalion commander in the Americal Division. His service in Southeast Asia earned him three Silver Star medals, a Legion of Merit, and three Purple Heart awards for wounds received in combat. After the war, he held key staff and command positions, including command of the 1st Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division and later the 24th Infantry Division. He served as Deputy Commander of the Joint Task Force during the invasion of Grenada in 1983.

Operation Desert Storm

Appointed commander of the United States Central Command in 1988, he was responsible for U.S. military interests in the Middle East. Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, he oversaw the massive buildup of coalition forces, dubbed Operation Desert Shield. In January 1991, he executed Operation Desert Storm, a devastating air campaign followed by the "Hail Mary" ground offensive. This maneuver involved a sweeping flanking movement by VII Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps that decisively defeated the Iraqi Army in less than 100 hours, with minimal coalition casualties. His blunt, televised briefings made him a familiar and trusted figure to the American public.

Later life and death

He retired from the Army in August 1991 and declined suggestions to pursue political office. He authored a bestselling autobiography, It Doesn't Take a Hero, and worked as a military analyst for NBC News. He also served on the board of directors for several corporations and was active with charitable organizations, including the March of Dimes and the Tampa General Hospital Foundation. He died from complications of pneumonia in Tampa, Florida, on December 27, 2012, and was interred at the West Point Cemetery.

Awards and decorations

His numerous military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal. His valor awards feature three Silver Star medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device. He also received the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger tab. Internationally, he was honored by numerous coalition nations, including being made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II.

Legacy

He is widely remembered as a brilliant strategist whose planning for Operation Desert Storm is studied as a model of modern joint warfare. His leadership style, characterized by both blunt candor and deep concern for his troops, earned him the enduring nickname "Stormin' Norman." While the long-term geopolitical consequences of the Gulf War remain debated, his successful execution of the campaign restored American confidence in its military after the Vietnam War era. His legacy is commemorated in facilities like Schwarzkopf Elementary School and the General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Memorial in Tampa.

Category:United States Army generals Category:American military personnel of the Vietnam War Category:American military personnel of the Gulf War Category:1934 births Category:2012 deaths