Buffalo Police Then and Now Desert Shield and Desert Storm

to deter any invasion of Kuwait's oil rich neighbor, Saudi Arabia. On August 7, deployment of U.S. forces began. United Nations Security Council Resolutions 660 and 662 condemned Iraq's invasionand annexation and called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces. On August 20 President Bush signed National Security Directive 45, "U.S. Policy in Response to the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait," outlining U.S. objectives - which included the "immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait," and the "restoration of Kuwait's legitimate government to replace the puppet regime installed by Iraq."

A U.N. ultimatum, Security Council Resolution 678, followed on November 29, 1990. It stipulated that if Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein did not remove his troops from Kuwait by January 15, 1991 a U.S.-led coalition was authorized to drive them out. Early in the morning of January 17, Baghdad time, the U.S.-led coalition launched air attacks against Iraqi targets. On February 24, coalition ground forces begin their attack. On February 27, Kuwait City was declared liberated, and with allied forces having driven well into Iraq, President Bush and his advisers decided to halt the war. A cease-fire took effect at 8:00 the following morning.

PO OSCAR I. BARRETTO

LT KENNETH M. BIENKO

CAPT JAMES F. CUDNEY

DET DANIEL A. DILL

PO DAVID J GREENWAY

PO JAMES R. HOWE

LT MARK H. MICHALEK

LT LINDA L. OBERKRIESER

LT JOHN D. RIEMAN

CAPT GERALD W. SCHOENLE

LT JAMES P. SMITH

PO JOHN TRABERT

The Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm Timeline

Iraq invades Kuwait, Aug. 2, 1990.

Operation Desert Shield begins, Aug. 7.

First U.S. forces (F-15 Eagle fighters from Langley Air Force Base, Va.) arrive in Saudi Arabia, Aug. 7.

First Operation Desert Shield-related U.S. death, Aug. 12.

President George Bush authorizes first call-up of Selected Reservists to active duty for 90 days, by executive order, Aug.22. (Call-up widened in subsequent authorizations; period of service extended to 180 days on Nov. 12 by executive order.)

Operation Desert Storm and air war phase begins, 3 a.m., Jan. 17, 1991 (Jan. 16, 7 p.m. Eastern time).

Iraq attacks Israel with seven Scud missiles, Jan. 17.

U.S. Patriot missile successfully intercepts first Scud, over Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 17.

President Bush authorizes the call-up of up to 1 million National Guardsmen and Reservist for up to two years, Jan. 18.

DoD announces deployment of Europe-based Patriot missiles and crews to Israel, Jan. 19.

Iraq creates massive oil slick in gulf, Jan. 25.

Iraqis attack Khafji, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 29.

Iraq captures first U.S. female prisoner of war, Jan. 31.

Award of the National Defense Service Medal authorized, Feb. 21.

Iraqis ignite estimate 700 oil wells in Kuwait, Feb. 23.

Allied ground assault begins, 4 a.m., Feb 24 (Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Eastern time).

Iraqi Scud destroys U.S. barracks in Dhahran, killing 28 U.S. soldiers, Feb. 25.

Cessation of hostilities declared, 8:01 a.m., Feb. 28 (12:01 a.m. Eastern).

Cease-fire terms negotiated in Safwan, Iraq, March 1.

DoD announces first troop redeployment home, March l7 (24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.)

Award of the Southwest Asia Service medal authorized, March 13.

President Bush announces U.S. relief supply airdrops to Kurdish refugees in Turkey and northern Iraq, April 5.

Iraq officially accepts cease-fire terms, April 6.

Task Force Provide Comfort forms and deploys, April 6.

U.S. transports deliver 72,000 pounds of supplies in first six Operation Provide Comfort missions, April 7.

Cease-fire takes effect, April 11.

Construction of first Provide Comfort tent city begins near Zakhu, Iraq, April 20.

U.N. commission assumes responsibility for Kurdish refugees, June 7.

(From the 1991 "Defense Almanac.")