Saudis, expatriates remember the 1990 Gulf War hero

More than 22 years have passed since the Gulf War took place on Aug. 2, 1990. But many residents of the Kingdom still remember US Army General H. Norman Schwarzskopf who led the successful invasion of Kuwait in 1991 that pushed then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein back across the border.
They are saddened by the news of Schwarzskopf's death at age 78 last Thursday. To many who had worried about the security of the Kingdom before the Gulf War, the success of the late US Army general in driving out Iraqi troops from Kuwait is still fresh in their mind.
He was honored with decorations from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, France and Belgium.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Saudi deputy defense minister, was the commander of the Joint Forces, and shared an equal position and responsibility with Schwarzskopf. He was given the honorary title “Father of Saudi Arabia’s missile” for having negotiated the purchase of the Kingdom’s first guided missile with the People's Republic of China. Then King Fahd promoted him to Field Marshal, who, however, resigned from the military in 1991. In January 2001, he was brought back into the military as assistant defense minister of military affairs.
“We remember the late US Army Gen. Schwarzkopf as having led the successful invasion of Kuwait in 1991 that pushed Iraqi troops out of Kuwait,” said Mohammed Ali Al Bishi, a Saudi editor in an Arabic daily, told Arab News yesterday. The word hero, he said, is often casually used but there are those who really deserve to be called that, and Schwarzskopf is one of them.
Mosaed Al-Zayani, a journalist in a leading political Arabic daily, agreed: “He was a great soldier and top US Army general who had a great strategy in conducting the ‘Operation Desert Storm’ from Jan. 21 to Feb. 28, 1991.”
He noted that Schwarzskopf’s strategy pushed Iraqi troopsback across the border in a sweeping and surprising military move that continued to be talked about today.
“However, he was more than that,” he said, adding that “the son of a military officer, Schwarzskopf, following his graduation from West Point, volunteered for Vietnam in 1966 and served two tours, one as battalion commander.”
He added that the late general, known as “Stormin’ Norman,” had numerous exploits in Vietnam, including his bravery in leading his men out of a mine field. Schwarzskopf received three Silver Stars for valor — including one for saving those troops from the minefield — plus a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and three Distinguished Service Medals.
Expatriates in the Kingdom likewise expressed admiration for the late military officer. Ben Adina, a Filipino who arrived in the Kingdom in 1980 from the province of Pampanga, north of Manila, said, ” He was a great US Army general and for his brilliance, strategy and leadership, he had carved out a good image in the hearts and minds of many Saudis as well as expatriates.”
Jordanian Abdullatif Al-Omran who has been working in the Kingdom for 33 years added, “I remember him to be a great general as he successfully led the allied forces to drive the Iraqi troops out of Kuwait.”
Eric P. Asi, a senior electrical engineer at Nardeen Lighting, added, “One of the good decisions Schwarzskopf made was calling off air strikes along the road from Kuwait to Iraq known as the ‘Highway Death.’”
He said that “the enemy was helpless, bodies and vehicles littered the road. The general, knowing that Saddam’s army was thoroughly defeated, granted mercy. It was an act of humanity seldom seen during the war. The enemy was helpless. It was a proud moment for Schwarzskopf.” Mary Jane Tupas, director of nursing at Saad Al-Dossary General Hospital in Al-Khobar, said, “He was a great man. That’s why in death, he’s remembered well.”
After retirement, many were convincing him to seek political office. Instead, Schwarzskopf wrote a book, did a short stint as a TV military analyst and devoted his time to charitable causes.