George H.W. Bush: 41st U.S. President & WWII Hero
George H.W. Bush: From WWII Hero to President
Early Life and Military Service
George H.W. Bush was born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, to Prescott Sheldon Bush and Dorothy Walker Bush. He spent his childhood in Greenwich, Connecticut, and attended Phillips Academy. Raised in an Episcopalian household, Bush remains dedicated to his Christian faith.
After graduating high school, Bush joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, serving as a torpedo bomber pilot during World War II. He flew 58 combat missions and was shot down by the Japanese in 1944 but was rescued by a U.S. submarine. For his bravery, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Family, Education, and Early Career
In 1945, Bush married Barbara Pierce, and they had six children: George, Robin (who died as a child), Jeb, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. He graduated from Yale University in 1948 with an economics degree. At Yale, he was captain of the baseball team, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and Skull and Bones.
Bush moved his family to Texas and co-founded the Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company in 1951, Zapata Petroleum Corporation in 1953, and Zapata Off-Shore Company in 1954.
Political Career
Bush became active in the Republican Party in 1959, serving as chairman of the Harris County Republican Party in 1963. In 1966, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He later held positions as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, head of the Republican National Committee, U.S. envoy to China, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
In 1980, Bush ran for president but lost the Republican nomination. However, he was chosen as Ronald Reagan’s running mate and became the 43rd Vice President. He focused on domestic issues like federal deregulation and anti-drug programs.
Presidency (1988-1992)
In 1988, Bush was elected the 41st President of the United States. His presidency focused heavily on foreign affairs. Key achievements include managing the peaceful collapse of the Soviet Union and the unification of Germany.
Operation Just Cause
Bush oversaw Operation Just Cause, a successful military operation in Panama that removed dictator Manuel Noriega from power and restored the democratically elected government. Nearly 26,000 troops were deployed, and Noriega was arrested on drug trafficking charges.
Operation Desert Storm
, the removal of Iraqi forces and the influence of their leader, Saddam Hussein, from Kuwait in 1991. It was a massive six-week bombing parade followed by four days of land war that finally resulted in the liberation of Kuwait. However, the former U.S. president failed to pursue and properly handle Hussein and left him in power, which later allowed for ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iraq. Continuing with Bush’s controversial decision-making, toward the end of his term, Bush sent U.S. marines to feed the starving citizens of war-ravaged Somalia. This considerate task placed the marines in the crossfire of feuding groups and unintentionally caused the deaths of 18 soldiers, leaving U.S. politicians and citizens wondering if Bush had made the right call. Still, he had more experience with foreign relationships than most presidents do, and he used his knowledge to the best of his ability. All in all, George H.W. Bush led several successful operations for the United States and prioritized foreign policy.