Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. was a renowned United States Army general, born on August 22, 1934, in Trenton, New Jersey. His early life was marked by a unique blend of American and Iranian influences, as his family relocated to Iran for a period.
Schwarzkopf's military career began with his acceptance into the United States Military Academy, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1956. Following initial training programs, he interrupted his stint as an academy teacher to serve in the Vietnam War, initially as an adviser to the South Vietnamese Army and later as a battalion commander.
During his time in Vietnam, Schwarzkopf was highly decorated, receiving three Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, and the Legion of Merit for his bravery and exceptional leadership. Rising through the ranks after the Vietnam War, he later commanded the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division and played a key role in the invasion of Grenada in 1983.
Assuming command of United States Central Command in 1988, Schwarzkopf was tasked with responding to the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 by the forces of Ba'atheist Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Initially, his command focused on defending Saudi Arabia from Iraqi aggression, but it eventually grew to an international force of over 750,000 troops.
When diplomatic relations broke down, Schwarzkopf planned and led Operation Desert Storm, a highly successful 100-hour ground offensive that defeated the Iraqi Army and removed Iraqi troops from Kuwait in early 1991. Schwarzkopf was honored with military accolades for his exceptional leadership and strategic prowess.
After retiring from the military shortly after the end of the Gulf War, Schwarzkopf engaged in various philanthropic ventures, occasionally stepping into the political spotlight before his passing on December 27, 2012, due to complications from pneumonia.
Throughout his illustrious career, Schwarzkopf was regarded as a hard-driving military commander, known for his exceptional leadership abilities, his talent as a military diplomat, and his skill in dealing with the press.
