Apr 09, 2018
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On April 11, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. honors the 27th anniversary of the official cease fire of Operation Desert Storm.
Our Gulf War veterans are remembered for not only liberating a country, but for reigniting America’s pride in their military. The speedy victory over Iraq is often overshadowed by other conflicts, but the VFW remembers. We remember that America was fighting the then-fourth largest standing army in the world, one that was battle-hardened from a nine-year war with Iran, and one that was so brutal that it gassed its own citizens. The fact the war lasted six weeks in the air and 100 hours on the ground is a testament to America’s training and hardware, and of proven military leadership who had honed their teeth in Vietnam — where they learned how not to fight the next war.
The VFW honors all 700,000 American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who served in the Gulf, most especially our 374 fallen, 467 wounded, and two servicemen who remain missing-in-action. You accomplished your mission to “Free Kuwait,” and the VFW salutes your service as brothers and sisters in arms.