General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, U. S. Army, Retired
Christian N. Schwarzkopf, College Student
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf: After I retired, Christian and I became best friends…buddies really. Then, a couple of years ago he got some wheels and discovered girls. So, we didn't spend quite as much time together, but we still are very close.
We try to go fishing in Alaska together for two weeks every year and our family gets together to ski in the winter. One of my fondest memories of Christian was when we went fishing in Alaska together. Christian was around eleven years old at the time. We were on a boat, with a guide, fishing for Red Salmon. They usually weigh around fifteen pounds and put up a nice fight. Well, Christian hooked a forty-eight pound King Salmon. As he was bringing it in, I would have to continually turn the boat, and each time I went behind him, I would give the pole a little tug. When he landed the fish, the guide and I were slapping him on the back congratulating him. But, he said it didn't count because I had helped him. So, he threw his line back in the water and he hooked a fifty-two pound King Salmon and he brought it in all by himself. His fish were bigger than anything I caught.
Christian Schwarzkopf: When I did something wrong my father let me know it, but he was not overly strict or too harsh. People often have asked me if my father was really tough, but he wasn't.
Recently, I had an experience where I observed prejudice taking place. I knew that they were acting that way because of the way they were raised. I later told my parents how grateful to them I was for the way in which they raised me, with a good core of values and morals, which included zero tolerance for prejudice.
This wonderful photography and essay is an excerpt from the book, Fathers & Sons: Photographs, Quotes and Essays with permission of the author.
The book can be purchased by clicking the title above or going to : www.amazon.com and doing a search for the author Randy Snook.