Veteran, Persian Gulf War

PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERAN - The Gulf War (August 2, 1990 –  February 28, 1991), code named Operation Desert Shield (August 2, 1990 – January 17, 1991) for operations leading to the buildup of troops and defense of Saudi Arabia and Operation Desert Storm (January 17, 1991 – February 28, 1991) in its combat phase, was a war waged by coalition forces from 35 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.

The war is also known under other names, such as the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, Gulf War I, Kuwait War, First Iraq War, or Iraq War before the term "Iraq War" became identified instead with the 2003 Iraq War (also referred to in the US as "Operation Iraqi Freedom").  The Iraqi Army's occupation of Kuwait that began August 2, 1990 was met with international condemnation, and brought immediate economic sanctions against Iraq by members of the UN Security Council.  US President George H. W. Bush deployed US forces into Saudi Arabia, and urged other countries to send their own forces to the scene.  An array of nations joined the coalition, the largest military alliance since World War II.  The great majority of the coalition's military forces were from the US, with Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Egypt as leading contributors, in that order. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia paid around US$32 billion of the US$60 billion cost.

The initial conflict to expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait began with an aerial and naval bombardment on January 17, 1991, continuing for five weeks.  This was followed by a ground assault on February 24th.  This was a decisive victory for the coalition forces, who liberated Kuwait and advanced into Iraqi territory.  The coalition ceased its advance, and declared a cease fire 100 hours after the ground campaign started.  Aerial and ground combat was confined to Iraq, Kuwait, and areas on Saudi Arabia's border.  Iraq launched Scud missiles against coalition military targets in Saudi Arabia and against Israel.