Provides an overview of the U.S. Army's role in the coalition force arrayed against Iraq during the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991. The authors describe how the Vietnam-era Army transformed itself into a small, superbly equipped, highly skilled, well-trained, and extremely mobile force, composed of units from both the active and reserve components. In this major test the Army clearly demonstrated that it could project its power effectively and operate as part of a multinational force with great success. Although not definitive, this work records a pivotal chapter in the Army's history by describing the various strands that came together to produce the Army of the 1990s and by capturing how that Army in turn performed under fire and in the glare of world attention.

Background to war -- The Army of Desert Storm -- Creating the shield -- Expanding the shield -- Reinforcements for an offensive -- The offensive takes shape -- Ready for the storm --One hundred hours -- Profile of the new army -- The legacy of war -- APPENDICES: A: The Patriot Air Defense System -- B: U.S. equipment -- C: Iraqi equipment.