The Gulf War started on August 2, 1990, when the forces of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded oil-rich Kuwait. U.S. officials worried that the invasion might be Iraq's first step in a larger effort to consolidate its power over other nations in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia. Hussein defied United Nations Security Council demands to withdraw from Kuwait by mid-January 1991, and the Persian Gulf War began with a massive U.S.-led air offensive known as Operation Desert Storm. After 42 days of relentless attacks by the allied coalition in the air and on the ground, U.S. President George H. W. Bush declared a cease-fire on February 28, 1991.
Below is a timeline of the Gulf War that demonstrates how two High Pointers participated in Operation Desert Storm along with photographs and information from trusted historical sources.