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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

How finacky death is, takes the good and leaves the bad ....way too many times.


101 posted on 12/27/2012 5:09:50 PM PST by TomasUSMC ( FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM)
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To: Wisconsinlady

Well Shit!


102 posted on 12/27/2012 5:10:19 PM PST by DenCos
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To: 98ZJ USMC
>And you read up on some Rommel, too.

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.

103 posted on 12/27/2012 5:11:26 PM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Wisconsinlady

Stormin’ Norman goes to the old soldier’s rest. Thank you for your service, general.


104 posted on 12/27/2012 5:12:02 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (The one thing that Hollywood gets right about guns is that crminals will always get them.)
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To: Wisconsinlady

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.


105 posted on 12/27/2012 5:12:02 PM PST by centurion316
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To: 21twelve

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.


106 posted on 12/27/2012 5:12:07 PM PST by SueRae (It isn't over. In God We Trust.)
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To: tomkat

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.


107 posted on 12/27/2012 5:12:53 PM PST by rlmorel (1793 French Jacobins and 2012 American Liberals have a lot in common.)
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To: rlmorel

Gah. Meant “four years”. It is a liberal thing.


108 posted on 12/27/2012 5:14:46 PM PST by rlmorel (1793 French Jacobins and 2012 American Liberals have a lot in common.)
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To: fwdude

It was in no way a “salute” nor would the General take it that way.


109 posted on 12/27/2012 5:17:22 PM PST by DallasSun
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To: centurion316

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.


110 posted on 12/27/2012 5:17:30 PM PST by SueRae (It isn't over. In God We Trust.)
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To: Wisconsinlady
I always remember a maxim he emphasized in his book: "When placed in command, take charge." I've tried to apply that principle in my business, and I've passed that thought on to my children.

Rest in Peace, General.

111 posted on 12/27/2012 5:17:30 PM PST by TonyInOhio
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To: surroundedbyblue
Storm-an Norman RIP.
112 posted on 12/27/2012 5:17:42 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Wisconsinlady

Oh how sad, RIP.


113 posted on 12/27/2012 5:17:42 PM PST by 1217Chic
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To: zeebee

Gulf War I briefing. May he RIP.

http://youtu.be/7BaSwaBPg6M


114 posted on 12/27/2012 5:18:29 PM PST by ironman
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To: Wisconsinlady

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.


115 posted on 12/27/2012 5:20:16 PM PST by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Wisconsinlady

May your soul Rest in Peace sir.


116 posted on 12/27/2012 5:20:40 PM PST by knife6375 (US Navy Veteran)
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117 posted on 12/27/2012 5:21:01 PM PST by deport
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To: DallasSun

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.


118 posted on 12/27/2012 5:21:27 PM PST by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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To: Wisconsinlady

R.I.P. General


119 posted on 12/27/2012 5:21:50 PM PST by knak (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing)
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To: deport

That picture got the goose hairs up thanks for posting


120 posted on 12/27/2012 5:22:03 PM PST by al baby (Hi Mom)
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