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Schwarzkopf remembered as a 'soldier who loved soldiers'
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Retired Major General Bob Scales pays tribute to late general
- Duration 5:14
- Date Dec 28, 2012
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Retired Major General Bob Scales pays tribute to late general
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His troops called him the bear but he was better known as storming Norman Schwarzkopf tributes pouring in now for one of America's great generals lawmakers and military brass of all stripes remembering his tireless service to the country he loved.
A service that spanned decades.
A statement from the president reads quote with the passing of general Norman Schwarzkopf we've lost an American original.
From his decorated service in Vietnam to the historic liberation of Kuwait.
And his leadership of United States Central Command general Schwarzkopf stood tall for the country and army he loved.
Retired army general major general Bob scales is a Fox News military analyst and he knew -- general Schwarzkopf personally.
Even study mechanics under the general during his time at West Point military academy thank you for joining us.
But -- idea what would you say is his greatest accomplishment.
-- I think without question his greatest accomplishment.
Was winning.
The first war serious war we fought after losing in Vietnam.
His generation and -- my generation.
Were always troubled by the scar left by service in Vietnam.
He had two tours in Vietnam first as an advisor and leaders later as a commander.
And his and his great contribution at least two -- -- -- was the fact.
That he was going to win -- desert storm he was going to defeat a rock and he was going to have the power.
The military power the authority to do that and and so after the war the entire.
Natured character of the American military change because we were.
Led to victory by a enormously talented and charismatic general.
And -- -- general Schwarzkopf personally do you describe him.
Well you know he the his nickname is storming Norman we always called -- debate here.
But actually.
Beneath that the sought he had an incredible sense of humor a great laugh it was a tremendous.
Family man and very very devoted not only to the military but his family and -- extended family.
And and and forest and -- that he was always say very carrying -- And dedicated friend all the way through his life -- Yeah and he didn't actually like that nickname -- storming Norman he didn't help the bear what that the other military generally called them you interviewed him for your books certain victory the US army in the gulf war.
How do you think that heat would want to be remembered.
You know I think he probably would want to be remembered.
As a soldier soldier.
Everybody makes a big deal of his this command in the gulf war and that's probably.
Something we all should remember but I think.
What he really wants to be known as is is a soldier who had great concern for so let's remember.
He won the silver star in Vietnam by pulling his own soldiers out of a minefield he.
He always had enormous empathy for soldiers and even -- the gulf war when times were getting tough one thing that would always get storming Norman the storm.
Is it is what he found out that that soldiers had somehow been neglected.
Now I I think perhaps being a great general in combat is one thing but I think.
His epitaph should read that he was a soldier who -- soldiers.
Certainly moving there not Schwarzkopf was your mechanics professor -- -- to point out what you -- as a teacher did -- get a -- and well he was a heck of a lot better as a teacher that I was as a student.
At that.
And in fact years later he remembered.
-- difficulty with anything mathematical but he was he had a degree from the University of Southern California mechanics and he was very high in his class a class of 56.
And he was very bright most people don't understand he had a he had an IQ north of about a 170 so in spite of that bluster.
And this big giant.
A soldier there was a very deep teaming -- -- there he studied history he was a student of military history.
And -- -- -- themselves with.
Bright officers.
Who understood the nature and care -- -- so.
This was day a great feel captive to be sure but the same time this was a deeply intelligent intellectual man and.
Major general Bob scales thank you for that moving tribute to general Schwarzkopf.
Thank you -- and as we mentioned general Schwarzkopf military career goes back quite -- ways he attended valley forge military academy in Pennsylvania.
Before graduating from West Point in 1956.
In 1965.
He was sent to Vietnam as -- advisor to a south Vietnamese airborne battalion.
He received his fourth star and became a full general in 1988.
When he was appointed commander in chief of the US army's Central Command.
Possibly his most memorable achievement Schwarzkopf commanded more than 540000.
US troops and an allied force of more than 200000.
In Operation Desert Storm liberating Kuwait from the invading forces of Saddam Hussein.
Schwarzkopf retired from the army in 1992.
He never wanted to profit from his love.
Became a huge.
Celebrity by virtue of his leadership gap.
But he you know he never really wanted to profit from human and he was a humble man was.