After Iraq invaded the nation of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, and it was condemned by the United Nations, Operation Desert Shield began. Desert Shield was a deployment to defend Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries from future aggression and provided a platform to prepare for the offensive contingency if Iraq did not comply with UN edicts.
The world watched and waited to see if Iraq would abide by the United Nations-imposed deadline to withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991 or face a coalition force of 45 nations instructed to use “all means necessary to restore international order.” As the deadline passed without a response from Iraq, Operation Desert Shield became Desert Storm.
In January 1991, the United States’ first real test of the post-Cold War, members from all five military branches joined a coalition to push Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait.
The war, often referred to as the Persian Gulf War or Gulf War, ended February 28, 1991. Thank you to those who served.