Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Gen. Colin Powell Console the Families of Two Men Killed in the Persian Gulf & General Powell Responds to a Withering Onslaught of Questions—from a Class of First Graders

Rumbling through the jungles of South Vietnam on February 14, 1966, in a personnel carrier, thirty-two-year-old H. Norman Schwarzkopf came within inches of being shot dead by a Viet Cong machine gunner. Twenty-five years later Schwarzkopf, nicknamed “Stormin’ Norman” for his indomitable will power and volatile temper, was in command of all U.S. and non-Arab coalition forces in the Gulf War. Gen. Colin Powell, appointed by President Bush as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also served two tours in Vietnam as a military advisor, and also survived his share of close calls. Both men were profoundly affected by the carnage they witnessed in Vietnam and were determined not to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. Allied forces in the Gulf War would, they vowed, go in with clear objectives and overwhelming firepower. Although Americans suffered relatively few casualties—approximately 150 battle fatalities in all (over 20 percent of which were caused by “friendly fire”)—Schwarzkopf and Powell were well aware that each death was profoundly traumatizing for the families who lost a loved one. After learning that an army nurse in the Persian Gulf named Karen Bnosky had lost her twenty-five-year-old husband (who was also serving in the Gulf) in a jeep accident, General Schwarzkopf sent the following:

15 April 1991

Dear Karen,

I received a beautiful letter from your parents today. They spoke to me of your grief and asked if I would write to you. I am indeed proud to do so.

I join you in your grief for the tragic loss of your husband, Jeff. Since both you and I are members of the military service, we knew that some day we might be called to serve our country in time of war, and we also fully understood that this service could result in our death. Nonetheless, because we believe in a cause higher than self, we chose to serve our country and take that risk. Few who have never served their country will ever understand a soldier’s heart. Just as Kipling once said, “In time of war the public adores soldiers and in time of peace they are slighted.” Even so, because we choose to serve our country we become part of a very special and honorable group of Americans and we can take pride in ourselves and our accomplishments. I am sure that Jeff felt this way about his military service.

Even though we understand that we might give up our lives for our country in times of war, none of us are prepared for that reality, and particularly when that reality is a tragic accident rather than a fierce battle. For this reason I will constantly badger my commanders about taking care of their troops. I badger them even more about the prevention of careless accidents that might result in a senseless loss of life. Your story and similar stories of over 150 family members who have lost loved ones as a result of accidents renew my conviction to continue to insist that our leadership remains vigilant to the prevention of such tragic accidents. I will never cease in my efforts until the day I remove my uniform and probably not even then.

I am very proud of you that despite your tragic loss you have chosen to continue with your life in the Army Simply stated, that is the epitome of selfless service to your country. Your country should be proud of you also. I am also proud of your efforts to see to it that our country does not forget that when we send our service men and women abroad that they face many dangers in addition to the enemy. Those who lost their lives in Desert Shield deserve to be recognized by their countrymen just as much as those who lost their lives during Desert Storm. It is because of people like you that their sacrifices will not be forgotten.

I pray that your grief will soon pass and I know that your memory of Jeff will never fail. I hope that eventually you will draw strength from the fact that your husband thought enough of his country to give his life for it and that this strength will cause you and all who you meet to rededicate themselves to the values and ideas for which our great country stands. God bless you.

Sincerely,

H. NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF

General, U.S. Army

General Powell, whose correspondences tended to be more formal in nature, received a letter from the mother of a thirty-four-year-old marine captain, Jonathan Ross Edwards, killed in the Gulf on February 2. Captain Edwards, who had a wife and children back in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was piloting a medical evacuation mission when his helicopter crashed. Ms. Edwards wrote directly to General Powell to request information about her son’s two-year service in the U.S. Army, beginning when he was seventeen. Powell replied with the following:

Dear Ms. Edwards,

Thank you for your letter concerning your son, Jack. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy at his loss during Operation DESERT STORM. Your letter has conveyed the pride you have for Jack’s distinguished service to our Nation. I share your pride in him, and I share your sorrow over the terrible sacrifice he, and you, had to make.

It took us some time to trace Jack’s Army service record. I enclose the awards you requested as well as a copy of his Record of Separation from Active Duty and a copy of a letter of Commendation he received during his service in Korea. In staffing your letter, we learned from the Marine Corps that an additional service award, recently approved, also should be sent to you soon.

Finally, I must tell you that I firmly believe that the cause for which Jack fought and died was a noble and necessary one. And while I also believe that the decisions we made during the Persian Gulf crisis were the right ones, I deeply regret the cost so many good Americans like you had to pay. The very gracious words at the end of your letter meant a great deal to me personally and will continue to have a special place in my thoughts long into the future.

Once again you have my sincere sympathy and best wishes.

Sincerely,

COLIN L. POWELL

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

During the war General Powell earned high praise for his public relations skills, answering a barrage of questions from the media with charm and, in as much as wartime secrecy would allow, candor. After the war, Powell received a veritable grilling from an unexpected source: a class of first graders from Ypsilanti, Michigan. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—the most senior military advisor to the president—dutifully replied to the inquisitive tykes with the following:

May 24, 1991

Dear Ms. Dusbiber and First Graders,

Thanks for all the wonderful pictures. They did, indeed, make my day. In fact, of all the correspondence I have received as a result of DESERT STORM, I have found none more enjoyable than your collection of drawings.

In response to most of your questions, I can drive a tank, have been scared, like to read, travel frequently, eat snacks, have a family, smile often, sometimes get angry, love pizza, have attended many schools, watch lots of television, like sports, enjoy exercising, cannot fly a plane, have eaten at the White House, and have very little spare time. There are female generals; my boss is the Secretary of Defense, and my wish is for a peaceful earth where every individual is free.

My best wishes to all of you. Thanks again for thinking of me.

Sincerely,

COLIN L. POWELL

Chairman

Joint Chiefs of Staff

In January 2001, Colin Powell became the first African-American secretary of state in U.S. history.