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]
How finacky death is, takes the good and leaves the bad ....way too many times.
Well Shit!
And all the Eastern Front commanders via von Mellenthin. I distinctly remember this sitting on the little desk in his monk's cell of a room in the command bunker for Desert Storm, when he was interviewed by one of the media:
This before the offensive. A man fully informed by the past as he marched triumphantly into the future. Rare these days for sure.
Stormin’ Norman goes to the old soldier’s rest. Thank you for your service, general.
I knew him well. He was my boss and my neighbor in the early eighties in Mainz, Germany. Like all great men, he had his faults, but he played his role well at CENTCOM and the country was well served by his leadership.
He bought an early PC, an Apple II, and I spent an entire weekend with him helping him getting it set up and then playing with it. I was teacher, he was student - the only time that those roles were reversed. Our wives were not happy as they had other plans for us that weekend.
HAHAHA....I’ll never forget that one!!!! :-)
Lord, how I love that man. He hated Washington, too, had absolutely no interest in running for any kind of office.
I hope his retirement years, however short, were rewarding and peaceful. I recall seeing a story on him after the Army, working with youth, preparing them for manhood via an “Outward Bound-like” program. Lots of hiking, fishing, wholesome stuff. He touched so many.
Flying the flag at half mast for every calamity, bump in the road, and every Tom, Dick and Harry has been a pet peeve of mine for two years.
But I will put my flag at half mast today.
Gah. Meant “four years”. It is a liberal thing.
It was in no way a “salute” nor would the General take it that way.
My heartfelt sympathies on your loss. I only knew OF him and this breaks my heart. For those that were fortunate to know him personally, this is much much harder.
Rest in Peace, General.
Oh how sad, RIP.
This is very sad news indeed. Thank you for your service General, may you rest in peace, and may the Lord bless and comfort your family.
May your soul Rest in Peace sir.
I was comparing the honor that serving in the greatest military on earth once was, which Schwarzkopf personified, with what we have now. I think he would agree.
R.I.P. General
That picture got the goose hairs up thanks for posting
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.