Norman Schwarzkopf, a popular U.S. career military officer, led the coalition forces during the Persian Gulf War. Schwarzkopf was born in Trenton, New Jersey. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1956 and was commissioned in the army (he later earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California in 1964). Schwarzkopf served in the Vietnam War and held a variety of commands in the military. In 1983, he commanded the ground forces during the invasion of Grenada.

In 1988, Schwarzkopf was promoted to general and appointed commander of U.S. Central Command, with responsibility for the Middle East, South Asia, and the East Africa. Schwarzkopf developed a plan to defend the oil fields of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia that became the basis for the liberation of Kuwait following the 1990 invasion by Iraq. The general oversaw Operation Desert Shield, which included the buildup of coalition forces prior to the start of hostilities between the coalition and Iraq. Schwarzkopf's command included forces from more than 20 countries and presented numerous problems related to the interoperability of forces and the chain of command.

In January 1991, Desert Shield transitioned to Desert Storm as the coalition forces launched massive air strikes against Iraqi forces, followed by a ground campaign. Schwarzkopf's troops quickly drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait with minimal allied casualties. During the campaign, Schwarzkopf held numerous press conferences and was a visible presence in international media coverage of the conflict. The speed and overwhelming nature of the attack led Schwarzkopf to acquire the nickname "Stormin' Norman."

Schwarzkopf retired from the military in August 1991. He wrote a best-selling autobiography in 1992. The former general's popularity was such that there was speculation that he would seek the presidency. However, Schwarzkopf chose to remain in private life. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993, but underwent successful medical treatment.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Biographies at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Biographies and other relevant topics.