Gulf War/Liberation and Defense of Kuwait/Operation Desert Storm
From Month/Year
January / 1991
To Month/Year
February / 1991
Description Just after midnight on January 17, 1991 in the U.S., Bush gave the order for U.S. troops to lead an international coalition in an attack on Saddam Hussein’s army. U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf led “Operation Desert Storm,” which began with a massive bombing of Hussein’s armies in Iraq and Kuwait. The ensuing campaign, which is remembered in part for the United States’ use of superior military technology, introduced the term “smart bombs” to the global vernacular—precision-bombing devices aimed primarily at destroying infrastructure and minimizing civilian casualties. In response, Hussein launched SCUD missiles into Saudi Arabia and Israel. Iraq’s use of SCUDs, notoriously inaccurate weapons designed to terrorize civilian targets, nearly succeeded in inciting the Israelis to retaliate. Hussein hoped an Israeli military response would draw neighboring Arab nations into the fight on Iraq’s side, but he again committed a grave miscalculation. Bush reassured Israelis that the U.S. would protect them from Hussein’s terrifying SCUD attacks and Israel resisted the urge to retaliate. Soon after, U.S. –installed Patriot missiles destroyed SCUD missiles in flight and further foiled Hussein’s plan to goad Israel into a holy war.
Following an intense bombing of Baghdad, U.S.-led coalition ground forces marched into Kuwait and across the Iraq border. Regular Iraqi troops surrendered in droves, leaving only Hussein’s hard-line Republican Guard to defend the capital, which they were unsuccessful in doing. After pushing Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait, Schwarzkopf called a ceasefire on February 28; he accepted the surrender of Iraqi generals on March 3.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1991
To Month/Year
February / 1991
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember A/ Co., 307th EN BN, 82nd ABN DIV attached to 1st BDE, 82nd ABN DIV (504th Parachute Infantry Regiment)
Memories We didn't do any shooting. The tankers and mech guys did all of that. We did take some prisoners though.
One morning in Iraq an Infantry team leader was checking weapons and discharged one of his Soldier's M-203 rounds. It exploded harmlessly in the desert, but caused quite a bit of commotion.