Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf Dies at 78

Retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who became known as "Stormin' Norman" when he led U.S. troops to victory in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, died Thursday in Tampa, Fla., of complications from pneumonia, the Associated Press reports. He was 78.

Born in Trenton, N.J., Schwarzkopf went to Iran as a teenager with his father, who was training the Iranian national police force, according to the AP. Schwarzkopf attended schools in Iran, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, and attended West Point upon returning to the States. He graduated in 1956 with an engineering degree and later earned a master's degree in engineering at the University of Southern California.

Schwarzkopf later served two tours in the Vietnam War, and earned three Silver Stars for valor, as well as a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and three Distinguished Service Medals.

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In 1988, he was named commander in chief of U.S. Central Command at Tampa's MacDill Air Force Base, where he dealt with U.S. military and security concerns in the Middle East, Afghanistan, central Asia, Pakistan and other areas, the AP reports. In the early 1990s, Schwarzkopf commanded Operation Desert Storm during the first Gulf War, which successfully drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait.

He retired from the army in 1992.

Accolades include a knighthood bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II, as well as honors from France, Britain, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, according to the AP.

Schwarzkopf is survived by his wife, Brenda, and their three children, Cynthia, Jessica and Christian.