Oil well fires rage outside Kuwait City in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm. The wells were set on fire by Iraqi forces before they were ousted from the region by coalition force. Photo – Tech. Sgt. David McLeod

Springfield – The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) hosted the 24th Desert Storm Remembrance Ceremony to remember and honor those who served, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Desert Storm 24 years ago.
The ceremony took place Saturday at the Illinois State Military Museum, 1301 North MacArthur Blvd., Springfield.

Desert Storm cost 382 American lives, 147 of those combat deaths. There were 467 wounded in combat, and the overall cost of the war was $61 billion, with some $53 billion paid for by contributing or Coalition nations.

Fourteen military personnel from Illinois died during the conflict. They were:

Stanley W. Bartusiak, U.S. Army, Feb. 25, 1991, Calumet City
Charles W. Cooper, U.S. Army, Feb. 21, 1991, St. Charles
Dale Thomas Cormier, U.S. Air Force, Feb. 15, 1991, Crystal Lake
Gary W. Crask, U.S. Army, Jan. 19, 1991, Springfield
William D. Cronin, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, Oct. 8, 1990, Elmhurst
James P. Heyden, U.S. Army, March 12, 1991, Chicago
Raymond L. Horwath, Jr. U.S. Marine Corps, Nov. 30, 1990, Waukegan
Patrick R. Hurley, U.S. Army, Feb. 21, 1991, New Douglas
William J. Hurley, U.S. Marine Corps, Oct. 8, 1990, Chicago
Kenneth T. Keller, U.S. Marine Corps, Oct. 8, 1990, Glenview
Earnest F. Mitchem, U.S. Army, April 13, 1991, Granite City
Stephen R. Phillis, U.S. Air Force, Feb. 15, 1991, Rock Island
Christian J. Porter, U.S. Marine Corps, Feb. 27, 1991, Wood Dale/Springfield
Bradley R. Schuld,t U.S. Air Force, Aug. 29, 1990, Arlington Heights

The military services of the United States – to include Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves – joined with Coalition Forces to stop aggression and eject Iraqi forces from Kuwait in early 1991 after an invasion and brutal occupation by forces under Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. The Coalition air campaign began early on Jan. 17, 1991 and stripped away Iraqi air defense, command and control, ground combat elements, and logistical capabilities.

The ground offensive operations – commonly termed the “100-Hour War” – began at 4 a.m., Feb. 24, overwhelming Iraqi ground forces, capturing thousands, and ejecting the remainder out of Kuwait. The Coalition Forces, under the command of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, unilaterally ceased offensive operations against the Iraqis at 8:01 a.m., Feb. 28, 1991.