IRAQ is the Enemy?: 1st Armored Division Platoon Combat Story: Persian Gulf War

Operation Desert Storm is the military name for the offensive phase of the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991. On 24 February 1991 a 42-nation coalition of armed forces, led by the United States, began the combined air, sea & ground attack into Iraq and Iraq-occupied Kuwait. First Lieutenant Dean was the platoon leader of a 30-man, Bradley-equipped, mechanized infantry platoon in 1st Armored Division of 7th Corps, all deployed from Germany to Saudi Arabia to remove Iraq and their massive (4th largest in the world) and 10-year, war-hardened military from Kuwait.

This is Lieutenant André Dean’s platoon-level story of five days of warfare, front-line combat, communication challenges, surrendering POWs, fratricide, Army doctrine adjustments, and a look at his entire military chain of command (from private to 4-star general).

At the heart of their story is the contrast of peacetime and wartime command relationships in determining the most immediate enemy threat to himself and his platoon, through 5 intense days of mortal combat.

Dean also paints the background for what 7th Corps historians call “the largest single engagement of the Persian Gulf War”, where just over 100 Iraqi T-62 tanks and assorted armored vehicles were surrendered to the lead elements of the arriving 2nd Brigade of First Armored Division and 100% destroyed after receiving only two shots from Task Force Gator, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, all, amazingly without the loss of a single American soldier’s life.

Action, adventure, humor, conflict resolution, faith in God, patriotism, duty, honor, Country…all in 5 days of lethal combat.

* “I absolutely could not think of anything else but your book and finishing the story. It consumed me. Awesome!”

* “You have the gift André. I could not put down this story! Super book!”

* “When I got to DAY 4, I just refused to go to sleep until I had finished the book! Go André!”

* “André your book had me so engrossed that it cost me two nights of sleep! You owe me Bud! Great storytelling!”

* “Once I finally sat down to read, I couldn’t put it down! I have read it FOUR TIMES now. It’s beautiful! We just have no idea what our soldiers go through. Thank You!”