operation desert storm

1990-1991

24,015 Served

7 Kills in service

On January 17, 1991 begins the operation "Desert Storm" . An international coalition is attacking Saddam Hussein's Iraq, guilty of annexing the emirate of Kuwait.

This war, known as the Gulf War because it takes place on the shores of the Persian Gulf, originated in Iraq's previous war against Iran. Completed in 1988, this deadly conflict has left both countries bloodless.

The coalition brings together 28 countries and 605,000 men, half of whom are Americans. She has state-of-the-art weapons. Facing her, an Iraqi army of 540,000 men, poorly commanded and without motivation, that Western propaganda presents without laughing like the fourth army of the world.

The lightning war left more than 200,000 dead on the Iraqi side, half of them civilians. These are the Shi'a massacred by the militia of Saddam Hussein in favor of the invasion. These are also the many "collateral" casualties of the bombing of strategic targets by Western aviation.

The allies have to deplore only a few dozen deaths, mostly accidental (United States: 65 dead and 43 missing, Great Britain: 6 dead and 8 missing, France: 2 dead, Arab allies: 13 dead and 10 missing ...). But in the medium term, Western losses could prove to be heavier than expected because of the contamination of soldiers by the residues of bombs made from depleted uranium waste.

Unfortunately, the stereotypes and ethnic ignorance of the Indians did not end with the war in Vietnam. With more than three thousand Indian soldiers stationed in Kuwait during the Gulf War, Brigadier General Richard Neal referred to enemy territory as an Indian country. This military slang term, obviously remained of the Indian Wars of the 1800s, apparently continued to be used during the Vietnam War and in the Gulf War and was applied to enemy territory in any nation.

The leaders of the National Indian American Congress, which represents tribal governments throughout the United States, immediately demanded an apology from the military for the offensive, ignorance and insensitive comments. A spokesman for the military command in Saudi Arabia explained that the Indian country is a term that was used in Vietnam to designate the hostile territory, but a spokesman for the Pentagon said the term had no official definition in military manuals.

Military records provided by the Pentagon Public Affairs Office show that about twelve thousand native Americans served in the Middle East during the Gulf War and perhaps as many as twenty-four thousand served in all branches of the Gulf. army just before the start of Operation Desert Storm.

One thing that was evident on television and the print media of the Gulf War was that a growing number of women had taken part in combat and combat support roles, a trend that was also reflected in Aboriginal communities. US.

A review of tribal newspapers at the time reveals that tribal communities throughout the United States have been intensely involved in ceremonial activities to honor their young warriors involved in ODS and bring them safely home. It was obvious that patriotism among American Indians was as strong as usual.

Unfortunately, the last soldier killed in battle in this war was Manuel michael davila, aged twenty-two, Sioux.