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By Alicia Torbush
20th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - In July 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, accused Kuwait of stealing oil from a disputed supply and flooding the oil markets. In August, he sent 120,000 troops and 2,000 tanks into Kuwait and easily overtook the smaller country, calling it his 19th province.
The United Nations passed a resolution for military action if Hussein did not withdraw his forces within six months of Iraq's invasion.
Third Army began deploying Soldiers from its headquarters in Atlanta to establish combat forces in the region and to protect critical interests in the area both in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Eventually 30 countries would join together with the U.S. against Iraq.
Third Army was responsible for building forward logistical bases to support U.S. forces, as well as defend critical port and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.
During the first 90 days of the conflict, known as Desert Shield, Third Army coordinated the movement and sustainment of a force, including Soldiers from Third Army's two corps headquarters, nine divisions and coalition forces. This deployment was the equivalent of the force that the U.S. Army deployed to Vietnam in a year.
In January 1991, the U.N. granted President George Bush, Sr., permission to wage war on Iraq, the conflict became known as Desert Storm.
Air strikes began across Iraq and Third Army prepared to take the offensive with 250,000 ground troops, 10,000 tracked vehicles and 50,000 wheeled vehicles. Movement began with the forces leaving Eastern Saudi Arabia, heading 360 miles to the Iraqi border.
The ground war was launched in February 1991. It was the largest armored battle in the history of warfare. The allied ground forces, along with Third Army, far exceeded all expectations.
With the U.S. Marine Corps and coalition forces supporting Third Army's main attack, the ground war ended just 100 hours after it had began.
Following the Gulf War, Third Army transitioned to oversee the restoration of Kuwait and the care of displaced civilians from Iraq. It also transitioned into a buffer zone along the Iraqi border for the United Nations Observation Mission.
| Date Taken: | 11.06.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2008 00:47 |
| Story ID: | 25975 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 234 |
| Downloads: | 186 |
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