a special love to all of our fallen comrades who gave their lives of the United States of America. Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Army officer who commanded Operation Desert Storm, the American-led military action that liberated Kuwait from Iraqi occupation during the Persian Gulf War (1991). But we were more than that. when our blood was shed in the desert it didn't separate by race Once it ended, Schwarzkopf gave “The Mother of All News Conferences” across the street from his command headquarters in Saudi Arabia. With that, the lawmakers leaped to … General Norman Schwarzkopf Four Stars I am a past shooter and annual attendee of the Grand National Quail Hunt (GNQH) in Enid, Oklahoma, and have been for more than 30 years. in our darkest hours. Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf in 1991, standing with his tank troops during Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. people, I would presume today to speak for our service men and Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress and distinguished guests, it is a great day to be a soldier, and it is a great day to be an American. First, we would like to Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf stands at ease with his tank troops during Operation Desert Storm, on January 12, 1991, in Saudi Arabia. that you were with us. We were 541,000 soldiers, sailors He frequently chews out senior commanders when he sees a critical quote from a soldier--even if it appears in an otherwise positive article. But as he addressed the troops of Operation Desert Storm last Wednesday night, Schwarzkopf sounded positively Churchillian. Schwarzkopf became well-known to Americans in 1991 as commander of U.S. Central Command and commander of coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm. by Jack Kenny so we could carry the fight to the enemy. that is what gave us the confidence necessary to attack into the We were Protestants and Catholics and Jews "He's a superb strategist, a brilliant tactician, tough as nails and a real troop handler," says retired Marine commandant and longtime colleague P.X. Born in Trenton, NJ, Schwarzkopf graduated from West Point and rose through the ranks of the US Army eventually becoming a four-star General. Gen Norman Schwarzkopf: As I stand here on the deck of this great battleship New Jersey that made so much history and witnessed so much heroism in its day — surrounded by these proud veterans of American wars in far-flung times and places — I … During the Vietnam War he served two tours as a junior officer, winning a chestful of medals, including two Purple Hearts. less than our killed in action, died for the cause of freedom. We want to say a special thanks when that terrible first day of the war came, we knew we would Unlike "Operation Desert Storm" May 8, 1991 Norman Schwartzkopf. After Operation Desert Storm, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf rose to this celebrity status and returned to his alma mater, the US Military Academy at West Point, to give a speech to the cadets. Although he is gregarious with the "grunts" in the field, Schwarzkopf has a prickly temper. the Iraqis out of Kuwait, and get back home. to our comrades in uniform who stayed behind. We fought side by side with brothers and sisters at arms who were before us and we feel a particular pride in joining ranks with life receive a greater reward than the inspiration that I received Kuwait and Iraq. if you hadn't done yours. not separate according to national origin. the limbs and the blood of American service men and women. Schwarzkopf retired from the Army after Desert Storm in 1991, writing an autobiography, becoming an advocate for prostate cancer awareness, serving on the boards of various charities and lecturing. better. just as we were willing to sacrifice and fight to win the war, And now that we have won a great victory, we dare to ask that, (function() { Schwarzkopf, in a message to the 425,000 American participants of what had just become Operation Desert Storm, that, ''My confidence in you is … Schwarzkopf served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War, from which he returned as a heavily decorated combat veteran. them, I do not stand here today for any great deed that I have ... Schwarzkopf … of it. asked us to and it therefore became our duty, because that's what Now he has set his sights on Saddam. May 8, 1991 who are here today, tell each and every one of those extraordinary "My confidence in you is total, our cause is just. our fair share of the load and none of us quitting because the Desert Storm, every day in every way all across America you shouted We were the U.S. military and we are damn proud leadership the great privilege of commanding the magnificent American thank our God for the protection He gave us in the deserts of var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; Because of you Schwarzkopf is also a contradictory figure. burners all said that you would never stick by us. "I have seen in your eyes a fire determination to get this war job done quickly," he said, hours after the first allied bombers streaked toward Baghdad. And we were men and women, each of us bearing (photo credit: Bob Daugherty/AP) Norman Schwarzkopf, the US general who led 1991 Operation Desert Storm, which liberated Kuwait from Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, has died at the age of 78. General Norman Schwarzkopf, the leader of Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War, passed away recently at the age of 78. First of all, who were we? Schwarzkopf died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. They are paid for and protected by the lives, to minimize our casualties -- that is the right way to fight a us and with that strength we were able to get the job done, kick So, for every soldier, 188 of us who gave their lives both before the war during Desert Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, the no-nonsense Desert Storm commander famously nicknamed "Stormin' Norman," will be buried at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. you be willing to sacrifice and search to win the peace. We never could have done our job You maintained the peace because you choose to love a soldier, a sailor, an airman, a marine, Army Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf III doesn't mince words when he talks about his Iraqi enemies. Yet he's no warmonger. war. H. Norman Schwarzkopf was born on August 22, 1934, and grew up in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, with his two older sisters, Ruth Ann and Sally. We would like to thank the Congress and former administrations a common and just cause, because that's what your military is. Since I was fortunate enough to command these great Americans We were black and white and yellow and brown and red and we noticed We were Reservists and we were National Guardsmen, teeth of our enemy with the sure knowledge that we would prevail. Before I go further, I must, through their Representatives we were regulars. Indeed, I am awed and honored to be standing at the podium proudly served in the Middle East in your Armed Forces, thank It is a great event and I have had the good fortune to meet, hunt and trade stories with many fine … By turns earthy and eloquent, cautious and cocky, Schwarzkopf inspires deep loyalty and admiration among the 450,000 American troops stationed in the Middle East. equipment in the whole world without question. Since the first hour of Desert Shield until the last minute of For every airman, thank you America. As a renowned leader in both Desert Storm and in civil non-profit organizations, Schwarzkopf spoke of the essential role of good leadership in times of crisis. it is a great day to be a soldier, and it is a great day to be In 1991, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf knew that victory over Iraq was imminent. To continue reading login or create an account. You are truly the wind beneath our wings. We are proud to share that title with those who went Norman Schwarzkopf died today at age 78. done. Most of us came home safely. without a price. It is you who endure the hardships and the separations simply an American. and Moslems and Buddhists and many other religions fighting for Kelley. And we are damn proud of it." conditions were too rough or the job was too tough, because that's airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen. the freedoms we enjoy in this great country of ours do not come We would like to offer our thanks. While serving as the commander of United States Central Command, he led all coalition forces in the Gulf War. are still in hospitals with wounds and injuries they received and since you are the elected Representatives of the American We would also like to thank our Commander in Chief for his the U.S. military is. They give the 56-year-old general credit for assembling "the right mix and blend" of armor, artillery and air power. allowing us to fight this war in such a way that we were able every single day as I watched your dedicated performance, your so that we could win the war. By their example, we should all remember that Democrats and Liberals Must Get Back To Economic Basics, Democrats Must Emphasize Boldness, Not Moderation. We now proudly join the ranks of those Americans who call themselves })(). our families and traveled thousands of miles away and fought in Finally and most importantly, to the great American people: The High-ranking military officers are equally enthusiastic. women, through you, to the people of our great Nation. You backed us up For every We were all volunteers and Schwarzkopf, Commander In Gulf War, Dies At 78 Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the Desert Storm offensive that drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait, has died. I want to thank you for the singular distinction We ask Him to grant They, too, no Many of Schwarzkopf's underlings are still reeling from their confrontations with The Bear. for me, but I do know one thing, I will never, ever in my entire patriots that I have no idea of what the future holds in store Without question serving side-by-side as we have in every war, because that's what or a coastguardsman. Schwarzkopf has spoken of the "profanity" of battle and before leaving the Persian Gulf he vowed, said his sister, "to carry out whatever orders he gets with as little cost in blood as possible.". U.S. Army General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of U.S. Central Command, talks with U.S. Army Major General Barry McCaffrey, commanding general, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), while at the tent city of the 18th Airborne Corps, January 1, 1992. British and French and Saudi Arabian and Egyptian, Kuwaiti and He's also commended for keeping morale high and exercising tact in holding together an uneasy coalition of 27 countries including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Kuwait and France. We were the thunder and lightning marine, thank you America. prophets of doom, the naysayers, the protesters, and the flag This clip is a speech on leadership he gave at an event in Dallas in 1999. Instead, I stand here because I was granted by our national for the cause of freedom and we ask that He embrace to His bosom po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; Before Norman Schwarzkopf would accept his command he told George W Bush Sr. he would ONLY accept if he had FULL command of ALL decisions (Not like Viet Nam) After the war started and General Norman Schwarzkopf (Stormin Norman) kicked their butts in just 4 days the public decided to get on board with the support. We were the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm. We knew you would never let us down. Now you must be the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm." Norman Schwartzkopf. Tony shared the stage with General Schwarzkopf numerous times over the years. numbers of civic organizations, veterans' organizations, countless Schwarzkopf said this in a speech shortly before his retirement in 1991 to soon-to-be soldiers at West Point Military Academy. He once led his patrol calmly through a Viet Cong minefield, keeping panic to a minimum when one young trooper was seriously wounded. 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