The Gulf War: Remembering the Heroes of the ‘100 Hour War’

Soldiers deploying to the Gulf War make their way to a plane in 1990 at Volk Field, Wis. (U.S. Army file photo). Available from DVIDS.

“Just two hours ago, Allied air forces began a targeted attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait.” That’s how President George H. W. Bush announced the start of the Persian Gulf War to the nation on 16 January 1991.

To understand how we got to that moment, we need to take a step back.

You see, the 1980s was more than a decade of big hair, rock ballads, and neon. It was a decade of hardline policies that shaped global politics. It saw the birth of several new democracies in South America. In Europe, the Berlin Wall fell while China massacred pro-democracy students at Tiananmen Square. For the Middle East, the ‘80s were marked by the First Intifada, Lebanese Civil War, and the Iran-Iraq War.

The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) began when Iraq invaded Iran to prevent the Iranian Revolution from spreading its ideology into Iraq. The Iranian Revolution, or Islamic Revolution, overthrew Iran’s monarchy and established a theocratic (religious-based) government in Iran under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Saddam Hussein was the secular president of Iraq. If the Iranian Revolution came to his country, he’d be overthrown.

Iran had greater numbers, but Iraq had better weapons and a better-trained military thanks to support from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. This caused the conflict to drag on for 8 years and cost more than 500,000 lives. In July 1988, the United Nations brokered a ceasefire under Security Council Resolution 598. The Iran-Iraq War ended on 20 August 1988.

In 1990, Iraq owed $37 billion to Gulf creditors. Saddam Hussein asked the UAE and Kuwait to cancel Iraq’s debt because it had protected them from Iranian expansionism. They did not concede to his request to cancel the debt, and as a result Hussein invaded Kuwait. On 2 August 1990, a force of one hundred thousand Iraqi Republican Guards seized control of Kuwait within a matter of hours. The international response was swift and unanimous in its condemnation of Iraq.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Will Hover, of the 832nd Security Patrol Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., stands watch with a radio at an airfield during Operation Desert Shield. Available from DVIDS.

The U.S. responded by leading coalition efforts to sanction Iraq and deploying forces to Saudi Arabia to protect the peninsula – Operation Desert Shield. 

Iraq refused to budge.

By the end of October 1990, President Bush decided to use force, if necessary, to get Iraq out of Kuwait. He increased the U.S. presence in the region and pressed the U.N. to authorize the use of force to compel Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. U.N. Resolution 678 gave the U.S. coalition authorization to use force. Iraq was given 45 days to withdraw.

Iraq refused to withdraw.

As soon as the deadline passed, the coalition forces led by the U.S. attacked Iraq by air – Operation Desert Storm. This is what President George H. W. Bush references in his national address.

F-111F aircraft and an EF-111A Raven aircraft, rear, fly in formation over the desert during Operation Desert Shield. The aircraft are assigned to the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. Available from DVIDS.

Within 24 hours, they controlled the skies over Kuwait. They bombarded Iraqi command and control facilities, Hussein’s palaces, electric plants, oil refineries, and missile facilities. Then, they targeted Iraqi troops in Kuwait. 

Iraq retaliated by launching missile attacks on Israel and coalition forces in Saudi Arabia.

We responded with a ground invasion.

Image from Operation Desert Storm available from the Department of Defense.

On 24 February 1991, the ground war began. In just 100 hours, the Iraqi Republican Guard retreated and coalition forces liberated Kuwait City.

The swift victory came as a surprise to everyone involved. The Iraqi Army was known to be strong and well-trained, but they were no match for the U.S. military and its allies. 

Then-Warrant Officer Jack Rosarius, left, is pictured with fellow allied Soldiers in northeast Saudi Arabia en route to Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s. Rosarius retired in 1999 at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. Available from DVIDS.

Over 650,000 U.S. service members deployed for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. We’re honoring their service and celebrating their victory with our January Monthly Mission – the Gulf War Chocolate Chipper Workout. 

Show Gulf War veterans your support and join us.

Fun Fact:  The mission name is a play on words. It combines the nickname Gulf War veterans gave their Desert Battle Dress Uniform, “chocolate chip,” with a chipper (type of workout where you complete a set number of reps for each exercise before moving on to the next). 

Sources

Video:  President George H.W. Bush Announces Persian Gulf War 1-16-91

Department of State Office of the Historian. “The Gulf War, 1991.” Available here:  https://history.state.gov/milestones/1989-1992/gulf-war 

U.S. Army Center for Military History. “Operation DESERT SHIELD.” Available here:  https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/dshield_dstorm/desert-shield.html 

U.S. Army Center for Military History. “Operation DESERT STORM.” Available here:  https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/desert-storm/index.html