- Born
- Died
- Birth nameHerbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
- Nickname
- Stormin' Norman
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. (August 22, 1934 - December 27, 2012) was a United States Army general. While serving as the commander of United States Central Command, he led all coalition forces in the Gulf War.
Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Schwarzkopf grew up in the United States and later in Iran. He was accepted by the United States Military Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1956. After a number of initial training programs, Schwarzkopf interrupted a stint as an academy teacher and served in the Vietnam War, first as an adviser to the South Vietnamese Army and then as a battalion commander. Schwarzkopf was highly decorated in Vietnam and was awarded three Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, and the Legion of Merit. Rising through the ranks after the Vietnam war, he later commanded the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division and was one of the commanders of the invasion of Grenada in 1983.
Assuming command of United States Central Command in 1988, Schwarzkopf was called on to respond to the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 by the forces of Ba'atheist Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Initially tasked with defending Saudi Arabia from Iraqi aggression, Schwarzkopf's command eventually grew to an international force of over 750,000 troops. 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 removed Iraqi troops from Kuwait in early 1991. Schwarzkopf was presented with military honors.
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. A hard-driving military commander, easily angered, 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.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Bonitao
- SpouseBrenda Holsinger(July 6, 1968 - December 27, 2012) (his death, 3 children)
- ChildrenCynthia SchwarzkopfChristian Schwarzkopf
- RelativesMarianna Hill(Cousin)
- General, US Army (retired). He retired in 1992.
- His father was Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf who was the first Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police and narrated the popular 1930s radio series "Gangbusters" that was broadcast over CBS on Wednesday evenings. Each episode opened with the sounds of marching feet, gunshots, sirens and screeching brakes, followed by a strident voice saying, "Calling the police! Calling the G-men! Calling all Americans to war on the underworld!" Such was the cultural impact of the series that it gave rise to the expression, "coming on like gangbusters," as in anything having unusual force with expeditious consequences. The programs were based on factual incidents and closed with various descriptions of wanted criminals; many of whom were apprehended due to avid listener participation.
- As head of the New Jersey State Police, his father Col. Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf arrested Bruno Richard Hauptmann in 1934 and oversaw his conviction (1935) and execution (1936) for the infamous kidnap-murder of the baby of American hero Charles Lindbergh.
- Attended Valley Forge Military Academy before appointment to West Point.
- Given an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II (1991).
- [Interview in 2003] Going to war without France is like going hunting without an accordion.
- As far as Saddam Hussein being a great military strategist, he is neither a strategist, nor is he schooled in the operational arts, nor is he a tactician, nor is he a general, nor is he a soldier. Other than that, he's a great military man, I want you to know that.
- The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.
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