Posted on 12/28/2012 4:20:05 PM PST by raptor22
Leadership: The hero of Desert Storm gave America a taste of victory after the wasted sacrifice of Vietnam and demonstrated that only the sometimes-unwise decisions of politicians can keep us from victory over our enemies.
Schwarzkopf, called "Stormin' Norman" because of his reportedly explosive temper, led America to two sorely needed military victories: a small one in Grenada in 1983 and a big one as de facto commander of allied forces in the Gulf War in 1991.
Grenada was the first step in a recovery from the legacy of Vietnam, where defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory in a war micromanaged by Washington bureaucrats thousands of miles away.
President Ronald Reagan brought a new philosophy to Washington — we win, they lose — and Norman Schwarzkopf was fine with that.
He earned three Silver Stars for bravery during two tours in Vietnam, gaining a reputation as a plain-spoken commander with a sharp temper who would risk his own life for his soldiers — first, as a U.S. adviser to South Vietnamese paratroops and later as a battalion commander in the U.S. Army's Americal Division. He earned three Silver Stars for valor — including one for saving troops from a minefield — plus a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and three Distinguished Service Medals.
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I love watching his statements during the operation in Iraq.
“At this point our forces not only outperformed all of the Republican guard, but we were also just a few miles from Baghdad. We could have just taken the city and conquered the whole country last night.”
“Here, you will see a group photo of the Iraqi Air Force.”
I really hoped to see him on a presidential ballot.
Me too.
I saw that in action only once, terrifying. He was chewing up the officers in front of the NCO's, and the NCO's in front of the junior enlisted... It was an after actions meeting just after an exercise that didn't go very well.
“The Bear” is dead. Long live “The Bear”!
Long live the Republic!
When Schwarzkopf was the 8ID AsstDivCmdr (Support), he was also the Mainz Military Community Commander, across the Rhine River from where I was in V Corps Artillery in the Wiesbaden Military Community. His reputation definitely projected across the river and we regularly warned our troops to not get caught messing up across the river because nobody wanted to have to reply to a letter from Schwarzkopf.
I never met him but I heard lengthy fascinating stories from soldiers that had.
He had a lieutenant aide that would bring in his coffee tray to briefings at desired times. On the tray was a ceramic tea kettle with hot coffee, sugar bowl, cream, spoon and his cup. One day something went wrong and his cup was missing off the tray. He asked where the hell it was and the Lt. replied he didn't know, he can't find it, and someone must have took it. Schwarzkopf flew into a rage and his language reflected it as he said not only that he wanted it back, it was a special gift...on and on...A room full of 0-6's and O-7's were on their hands and knees under their tables and chairs looking for that "f"ing cup.
Another time a soldier failed to salute him walking up the sidewalk across the street from him and he thought that was close enough for a salute. He sent some staff after the soldier and wanted everyone from his squad leader up to his BDE Cmdr. in front of his desk in 2 hours. The soldier was a Specialist that had just been awarded soldier of the quarter.
RIP
An American hero-
Not aimed at you, but the author and editor:
He HATED the press’ nickname “stormin’ Norman”. Some respect and decorum would be in order when writing/publishing an obituary.
Beneath contempt.
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