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Persian Gulf War icon Schwarzkopf dies

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    Maj. Gen. Bob Scales reflects on late general's life

  • Duration 4:37
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Breaking news now on The Fox Report and the Pentagon now confirming to Fox News the retired general Norman Schwarzkopf.

Has died.

He's the man who commanded the coalition that push Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait.

In 1991 Fox News military analyst Bob scales on the phone with us now.

-- general scales he wrote a book called certain victory you have a lot of knowledge of the history of the Iraq War but.

Personal knowledge with this man you call him truly the first great American hero.

After Vietnam your thoughts.

Well that's exactly right -- -- remember like come from the same generation.

As general Schwarzkopf and the victory in Iraq the great we'll -- 1991.

As he says in his own book.

It doesn't take -- -- Was the vindication of my generation of the Vietnam generation because it was our first great military victory.

After the defeat in Vietnam and he took that very personally.

I knew general Schwarzkopf very well going back to his time as a major in the Pentagon.

And he always carried it -- -- -- this rocks that had.

The stated month that went with the defeat in Vietnam and when he.

When he defeated the Iraqi military and the plains of Iraq.

When he was able to do that one of the first things he says that the -- -- was.

This is a vindication for my generation -- Well you know it is some of the detail on his life general scales many people may not know.

He was born in Trenton, New Jersey and in fact his father founded and -- was up heading the New Jersey State Police force -- mean he had.

A great background as a child and leadership in his home.

That's right remember his dad was the one that led the investigation.

In the -- -- -- in the -- son's kidnapping.

In in the 1930s so he was already a national figure he went to West Point class of 1956.

He had one of the highest IQ's in his class he was always up big burly bear of a guy who was always outspoken.

And he and his wife Barbara were sort of you know.

Bigger than life figures in the army when I was a major and -- -- colonel and I always had enormous respect for him and when he was chosen to head the coalition effort in a rock a lot of people had doubts about Norman Schwarzkopf.

But by golly once Saddam Hussein was defeated.

And the Iraqi Army collapsed after a hundred hours of the ground war is reputation was clearly indicated here.

You know general scales I would ask you about a detail in general -- -- background and it has to do with his upbringing.

I understand he moved to -- ran when he was twelve years old so when he would talk.

And have knowledge about that part of the world it came from a place that was truly genuine with him.

-- try to remember he was sent come Central Command commander when the war broke out.

And he has spent a great deal of time in the Middle East and in the Middle East intimately not only Iran but also in Saudi Arabia.

So I guess in a way that once the war started didn't and President Bush ask him to take on this mission.

He had already had sort of a graduate level education if you will.

-- how wars are fought in the desert -- that separated him in many ways.

But he is -- -- contemporaries who have mainly back in those days focused on fighting a war.

You know for people who were just joining us.

General Norman Schwarzkopf has died -- confirmed that tonight with the Pentagon he led operations desert shield and desert storm which were.

The largest deployments of US forces and equipment.

Since the Vietnam War and general scales you just mentioned.

President George H.

W.

Bush you know he is ailing in the hospital but we have just gotten a statement.

From the former president and I want to share -- with our viewers if you're still with us.

The former president -- says.

Barbara and I mourn the loss of a true American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation on simply reading this off my screen now.

A distinguished member of that long gray line.

Hailing from West Point.

General Norman Schwarzkopf to me -- minimize the duty service country -- That has defended our freedom and seen this great nation for our most trying international crises.

More than that he was a good and decent man and a dear friend.

Barbara and I send our condolences to his wife Brenda and they're wonderful family and quote this.

From president George H.

W.

Bush whose ailing tonight and Houston hospital.

But speaking out through this statement about the passing of general Schwarzkopf.

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