Schwarzkopf, Our Old-School Hero

Before there was the cult of David Petreaus, there was the lionization of Norman Schwarzkopf. Before there was the ascendant, intellectual strategist and political animal, there was the old-school hero.

Petreaus, of course, self-destructed along his career climb that had plenty more upside left. Schwarzkopf, 78, died before he could do more community and charity work, most notably with prostate cancer awareness and the Children’s Home, a shelter for children who have been abused or neglected.

When we lost Norman Schwarzkopf, we lost a piece of non-renewable history. We lost someone who truly earned the hyperbolically overused “hero” designation.

While Schwarzkopf had a renaissance side with his foreign-language facility and a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Southern California, he was best known for doing what lionized generals used to do: He actually won a war. His charge was not just to “manage” one until political expedience kicked in.

In “Operation Desert Storm” he led coalition forces in a successful, six-week war–with minimal casualties–that drove Iraq out of Kuwait. He also was smart enough and prescient enough to know that resisting the temptation to go all the way to Baghdad to personally oust Saddam Hussein was the prudent approach. He lobbied accordingly, because he–ironically–didn’t see America’s role as a de facto occupier.

Schwarzkopf, who was honorarily knighted by Queen Elizabeth, given the Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush and welcomed home with a ticker-tape parade up Broadway, became an overdue antidote of pride and competence to America’s Vietnam legacy of embittered frustration. The country collectively needed what Schwarzkopf provided.

Speaking of Vietnam, Schwarzkopf had seen it first hand as a battalion commander. He would earn three Distinguished Service Medals, three Silver Stars for valor, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

Schwarzkopf was a man’s man, a soldier’s soldier, a patriot’s patriot. He even looked the part; the “Bear” nickname was pure central casting, even if his civilian demeanor belied his gruff side.

“Gen. Norm Schwarzkopf epitomized the ‘duty, service, country’ creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great nation through our most trying international crises,” eulogized former President George H.W. Bush, his commander-in-chief in the Iraqi war.

And to our credit, Gen. Schwarzkopf chose Tampa for his post-military life, a life conspicuously spent outside the enticing fast lane of political opportunity. Norman Schwarzkopf, old-school American hero, thank you.