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Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, coalition forces leader during Persian Gulf War, dies
Fox News ^ | December 27, 2012

Posted on 12/27/2012 4:31:56 PM PST by Wisconsinlady

Edited on 12/28/2012 4:45:17 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

WASHINGTON – Truth is, retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf didn't care much for his popular "Stormin' Norman" nickname.

The seemingly no-nonsense Desert Storm commander's reputed temper with aides and subordinates supposedly earned him that rough-and-ready moniker. But others around the general, who died Thursday in Tampa, Fla., at age 78 from complications from pneumonia, knew him as a friendly, talkative and even jovial figure who preferred the somewhat milder sobriquet given by his troops: "The Bear."

That one perhaps suited him better later in his life, when he supported various national causes and children's charities while eschewing the spotlight and resisting efforts to draft him to run for political office.

He lived out a quiet retirement in Tampa, where he'd served his last military assignment and where an elementary school bearing his name is testament to his standing in the community.

Schwarzkopf capped an illustrious military career by commanding the U.S.-led international coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991 -- but he'd managed to keep a low profile in the public debate over the second Gulf War against Iraq, saying at one point that he doubted victory would be as easy as the White House and the Pentagon predicted.

Schwarzkopf was named commander in chief of U.S. Central Command at Tampa's MacDill Air Force Base in 1988, overseeing the headquarters for U.S. military and security concerns in nearly two dozen countries stretching across the Middle East to Afghanistan and the rest of central Asia, plus Pakistan.

[excerpt]


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: obituary; schwarzkopf; veteran
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To: Wisconsinlady

RIP Sir! You were a true Patriot and Honorable Soldier. You will be missed.


81 posted on 12/27/2012 5:01:44 PM PST by marygam (I have extra ducktape for anyone who needs to wrap their head.)
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To: Wisconsinlady

Godspeed, General, RIP


82 posted on 12/27/2012 5:01:44 PM PST by Nowhere Man (Whitey, I miss you so much. Take care, pretty girl. (4-15-2001 - 10-12-2012))
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To: KoRn

One of the things I admired most about him was that he rode off into the sunset and avoided politics.


83 posted on 12/27/2012 5:01:57 PM PST by CrazyIvan (Obama's birth certificate was found stapled to Soros's receipt.)
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To: Daffynition

Money quote of the year.


84 posted on 12/27/2012 5:02:42 PM PST by Dartman
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To: 98ZJ USMC

I remember him answering some question by mentioning Alexander the Great’s tactics at Arbela if that is spelled right. It seemed he knew his military history.

I also recall a briefing where he showed “the luckiest man in Iraq”, where a vehicle drove right through the cross hairs of a guided bomb and passed just in time to miss it.


85 posted on 12/27/2012 5:04:17 PM PST by yarddog (One shot one miss.)
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To: fkabuckeyesrule

“What a great man and great leader. I always liked him. I think just about everyone did.”

EVERYONE did like him!

My sister wrote me while I in served in the Persian Gulf War (Ops Desert Shield and Desert Storm).

She wrote that my late mother, who was then aged 66, had tremendous “crush” on the General.

I can hear Ma now in her thick Boston accent: “He’s so handsome and smart!”

Prayers will be lifted for you tonight General. RIP and God Bless You and Your Family.


86 posted on 12/27/2012 5:04:24 PM PST by Joe Marine 76 ("It's The Natural Born Citizenship, Stupid!")
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To: Gefn

My mother saw him give an interview after the gulf war with a tear in his eye as he talked about sending his troops into battle. She told me “That is a real man.” He will surely be missed.


87 posted on 12/27/2012 5:04:32 PM PST by sheikdetailfeather (Yuri Bezmenov (KGB Defector) - "Kick The Communists Out of Your Govt. & Don't Accept Their Goodies.")
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To: Wisconsinlady

RIP Stormin’ Norman!


88 posted on 12/27/2012 5:05:42 PM PST by HeartlandOfAmerica
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To: Wisconsinlady
RESPECT.

A grateful nation thanks you. Fair Winds and Following Seas, General Schwarzkopf. I will get to shake your hand when I see you, if I am fortunate.

89 posted on 12/27/2012 5:05:51 PM PST by rlmorel (1793 French Jacobins and 2012 American Liberals have a lot in common.)
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To: Wisconsinlady

RIP General! You are missed already.


90 posted on 12/27/2012 5:06:50 PM PST by Randy Larsen (Aim small, Miss small.)
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To: Wisconsinlady

This American salutes you General. Rest in Peace sir.


91 posted on 12/27/2012 5:07:21 PM PST by 4yearlurker (No matter who you elect,the government eventually gets in.)
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To: Wisconsinlady

A HUGE loss! He proved that military leadership could take care of the troops and STILL get the mission completed, with minimal casualties and time. THIS has hit me square in the chest, THIS man...this leader, I would’ve followed to hell and back. I can only hope that many in leadership positions have learned from him.


92 posted on 12/27/2012 5:08:00 PM PST by NCDragon (If you can't stand behind the troops, try standing in front of them!)
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To: Wisconsinlady

I served with the General when he commanded I Corps. I’ve never seen a man with such a degree of command presence. When he walked into the room there was no doubt who was in charge.


93 posted on 12/27/2012 5:08:06 PM PST by DugwayDuke
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To: Wisconsinlady

Godspeed Sir. “Salute.” You will be sadly missed.


94 posted on 12/27/2012 5:08:14 PM PST by Pat4ever
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To: Wisconsinlady

I served with the General when he commanded I Corps. I’ve never seen a man with such a degree of command presence. When he walked into the room there was no doubt who was in charge.


95 posted on 12/27/2012 5:08:24 PM PST by DugwayDuke
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To: Wisconsinlady
Godspeed, Sir. May you rest in peace.
96 posted on 12/27/2012 5:08:43 PM PST by liberalh8ter (If Barack has a memory like a steel trap, why can't he remember what the Constitution says?)
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To: TexasFreeper2009

I think you’re on the right track there.

I was surprised to find out just now, that he lived in Iran when he was 12 years old.

He evidently had a very good grasp of the Middle East that went beyond book learning.


97 posted on 12/27/2012 5:08:43 PM PST by DoughtyOne (How about a waiting period for putting crazies out on the streets, say a million years or so.)
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To: DallasSun

It was completely meant as a salute to this great General, which apparently completely slipped by you.

Or, haven’t you heard about the homofication of our once-great military?


98 posted on 12/27/2012 5:08:58 PM PST by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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To: Jet Jaguar; ConorMacNessa; All


Godspeed General Schwarzkopf

99 posted on 12/27/2012 5:09:22 PM PST by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul the usual suspects!)
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To: Wisconsinlady

RIP


100 posted on 12/27/2012 5:09:41 PM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
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