Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.

General Norman Schwarzkopf
Official portrait, 1988
Birth name	Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
Nickname(s)	"Stormin' Norman"[1] "The Bear"[1]
Born	(1934-08-22)August 22, 1934 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	December 27, 2012(2012-12-27) (aged 78) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Buried	West Point Cemetery, New York, U.S.
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1956–1991
Rank	General
Commands	United States Central Command I Corps 24th Mechanized Infantry Division 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment
Battles / wars	Vietnam War Invasion of Grenada Gulf War Battle of Ad-Dawrah Attack on Ras Tanura Battle of Qurah and Umm al Maradim Battle of Bubiyan Battle of Khafji Battle of Wadi al-Batin Highway of Death Battle of 73 Easting Battle of Al Busayyah Battle of Phase Line Bullet Battle of Medina Ridge Battle of Norfolk Battle of Rumaila
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (3) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (3) Purple Heart (2) Presidential Medal of Freedom Congressional Gold Medal Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (Honorary)
Alma mater	United States Military Academy (BS) University of Southern California (MEng)
Spouse(s)	Brenda Holsinger ​ (m. 1968)​
Children	3
Relations	Norman Schwarzkopf Sr.
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Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. KCB (/ˈʃwɔːrtskɒf/ SHWORTS-kof; 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 against Ba'athist Iraq.

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 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. He was, like his father, a freemason. He was also a Shriner and was a member of ANSAR Shrine until his death.

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.