This Day in History – The Ground Offensive Begins…

On February 23, 1991 at 8 p.m. Eastern time (4 a.m., Feb 24 – God Forsaken Desert Time) the ground offensive, led by the Marines, and Allied troops crossed the borders into Kuwait.

The abbreviated version of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm:

On the morning of August 2, 1990 the mechanized infantry, armor, and tank units of the Iraqi Republican Guard invaded Kuwait and seized control of that country.  The invasion triggered a United States response, Operation DESERT SHIELD, to deter any invasion of Kuwait’s oil rich neighbor, Saudi Arabia.  On August 7, deployment of U.S. forces began.

United Nations Security Council Resolutions 660 and 662 condemned Iraq’s invasion and annexation and called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces.  On August 20 President Bush signed National Security Directive 45, “U.S. Policy in Response to the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait,” outlining U.S. objectives – which included the “immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait,” and the “restoration of Kuwait’s legitimate government to replace the puppet regime installed by Iraq.” A U.N. ultimatum, Security Council Resolution 678, followed on November 29, 1990.

It stipulated that if Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein did not remove his troops from Kuwait by January 15, 1991 a U.S.-led coalition was authorized to drive them out.  Early in the morning of January 17, Baghdad time, the U.S.-led coalition launched air attacks against Iraqi targets.  On February 24, coalition ground forces begin their attack.  On February 27, Kuwait City was declared liberated, and with allied forces having driven well into Iraq, President Bush and his advisers decided to halt the war.  A cease-fire took effect at 8:00 the following morning.

Source

U.S. Casualties:

• Army: 98 battle; 105 nonbattle
• Navy 6 battle; 8 nonbattle
• Marines: 24 battle; 26 nonbattle
• Air Force: 20 battle; 6 nonbattle
• Women killed, 15

Lest We Forget. Please take a moment to remember these fallen heroes of Operations Desert Shield/Storm and their families.

Eric served with Golf Company, Second Battalion/Fourth Marine Regiment – 2nd Marine Division ( Task Force Spartan ) – As an 0311 and Fireteam Leader during Operation Desert Storm.

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