U.S. General Herbert “Stormin'” Norman Schwarzkopf has died at age 78. Schwarzkopf served as the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Central Command, where he famously led coalition forces during the Gulf War.
According to the New York Times, Schwarzkopf died in Tampa, Florida, where he had retired to after leaving the military in 1991. Complications related to his recent pneumonia were reported to have led to his passing.
Schwarzkopf was a highly decorated soldier who graduated from the United Stated Military Academy at West Point. He rose to prominence during his two tours in the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During the 70s and 80s, Schwarzkopf continued advancing his career and served as Deputy Commander of the Joint Task Force deployed to Grenada in 1983, in addition to other commands. In 1988, he was promoted to General and appointed commander-in-chief of the U.S. Central Command.
Schwarzkopf became a household name after leading coalition forces into Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. The decisive victory and low casualties suffered during Desert Storm earned the general widespread media attention and a ticker tape parade. Despite his popularity, Schwarzkopf retired from active duty only months after the end of the Gulf War. In 1992, he published an autobiography titled It Doesn’t Take a Hero.