Schwarzkopf, H. Norman (1934-2012), was a general in the United States Army. He commanded the U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf War of 1991. Over 540,000 men and women served in the ground, sea, and air forces under his command.
Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., was born on Aug. 22, 1934, in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of a major general in the U.S. Army. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1956. In 1964, he received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California. During the Vietnam War (1957-1975), Schwarzkopf served twice in Vietnam—in 1965 and 1966, and in 1969 and 1970. He then commanded troops in the United States and held staff positions in the Pentagon. During the U.S. military operation in Grenada in 1983, Schwarzkopf was deputy commander of the joint task force and principal Army adviser. In 1988, he was appointed commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, the headquarters for military operations in 18 countries of Africa and Asia.
Schwarzkopf retired from the Army in August 1991. In 1992, he wrote an autobiography, It Doesn’t Take a Hero. Schwarzkopf also worked to raise public awareness of prostate cancer. He died on Dec. 27, 2012, of complications from pneumonia.
