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ITD Vault: 24 Years Ago
June/July 1991

Instructor remembers former West Point grad

Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf is a national hero, an elite four-star General and destined to go down as one of America’s greatest military leaders. The 56-year-old has style, class and an undeniable public appeal. During the Persian Gulf War, he was featured on CNN as often as the station logo.

He’s been interviewed by Barbara Walters. He’s been urged to run on the Presidential Ticket in 1992. He was Grand Marshall of this year’s Kentucky Derby.

There is a good reason for that says Headquarters’ own Ken Weineke, Schwarzkopf’s instructor at West Point in 1956. Then, as now, Weineke says, he was at the top of his class.

In fact, Schwarzkopf graduated in the top 10 percent of his class, 41st out of about 480.

Although Weineke admits to not specifically remembering Schwarz from the over 2,000 cadets he taught between 1954-58 at West Point, he does recall the class of 1956 painting over statues of Army commanders before the annual Army-Navy football game, a traditional Navy prank. Schwarzkopf’s class, however, was the only one not to employ water-based paints in their decorating.

Whether or nor Stormin’ Norman was involved, Weineke does not know. He does know, however, that Schwarzkopf helped pay to clean the statue.

At the time of the Persian Gulf War, it had been more than 30 years since Weineke had taught the class of 56 at West Point, and 17 years since he retired from the military altogether.

But when Weineke heard that Schwarz had been one of his students, he decided to write to the general and congratulate him on his success. Soon after, the pupil responded.

“Many thanks for your letter and also your kind remarks concerning the part I played in the success of Operation Desert Storm. Obviously, you must have taught me something while I was a cadet at West Point!”

Since Schwarzkopf has returned to the United States, speculation has run wild on what he will do next. Some foresee politics, others the lecture and book circuit, and still others see him staying in the military and ascending to the higher levels. Weineke, the Senior Personnel Analyst, has some other thoughts. He envisions a break into the non-military, non-political career field.

Editor’s 2015 Note: The 87-year-old Weineke passed away on Christmas Day 2014. He had an 18-year career with ITD after retiring from the military. The 78-year-old Schwarzkopf preceded Weineke in death by two years, passing away in December 2012. Schwarzkopf's command during Desert Storm eventually grew to an international force of more than 750,000 troops. He planned and led the attack—an extended air campaign followed by a highly successful 100-hour ground offensive—which destroyed the Iraqi Army and liberated Kuwait in early 1991.