XVIII Airborne Corps conflict Gulf War
Desert Storm
In 1991, XVIII Airborne Corps participated in the Persian Gulf War. The corps was responsible for securing VII Corps' northern flank against a possible Iraqi counterattack. Along with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, 24th Infantry Division and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, XVIII Airborne Corps also gained operational control of the French 6th Light Armor Division (LAD) (which also included units from the French Foreign Legion).
During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery consisted of the 3d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery; 5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery; and the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 39th Field Artillery. The living quarters for these three units were situated between the 82d Airborne Division and the Special Forces at Fort Bragg. Of the three units, only 1-39th was airborne qualified and served as the only fully airborne deployable 155 mm Field Artillery unit in history. The 1-39th FA and 3-8th FA were key components of the thrust into Iraq in the first Gulf War, providing fire support for the French Foreign Legion and the 82nd Airborne Division.
The 5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery also served in a major support role for 82d and French troops during the Gulf War. It consisted of three individual batteries. Batteries A and B were Airborne-qualified, while Battery C was air assault. Batteries A and B were assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Battery C was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. All of the battalions were subsequently re-flagged during the years following the Gulf War.
Task Force 118 had flown the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior off naval vessels during Operation Prime Chance in the 1980s, operating against Iran in the Persian Gulf. It was redesignated the 4th Squadron, 17th Cavalry on 15 January 1991. During the Gulf War of 1991 it was part of the 18th Aviation Brigade.Notable members
John D. Altenburg, MG – Deputy Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army.
Lloyd Austin, GEN — Commanding General of XVIII Airborne Corps, Commanding General of CENTCOM, 28th United States Secretary of Defense.
Ralph Eaton, BG – 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps Chief of Staff.
Michael C. Flowers, BG – Commander, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command.
Michael T. Flynn, LTG – 25th National Security Advisor, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and ISAF Commander.
Charles D. Gemar, LTC – US Astronaut.
Teresa King, SGM – First female Commandant of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy.
Gary Luck, GEN - Corps commander and later CG, USFK
Stanley A. McChrystal, GEN – ISAF Commander.
Raymond T. Odierno, GEN – 38th Army Chief of Staff.
James Peake, LTG – Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
David Petraeus, GEN – ISAF Commander and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Matthew Ridgway, GEN - U.S. Army Chief of Staff
David M. Rodriguez, GEN – Commander, U.S. Africa Command and FORSCOM.
Arthur D. Simons, COL – Led the Son Tay raid during the Vietnam War.
Thomas Tackaberry, LTG - Veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Michael Tomczyk, CPT – Computer entrepreneur and joint developer of the VIC-20.
Thomas R. Turner II, LTG – Commanding General of United States Army North.
James C. Yarbrough, BG – Commander, Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk.
Wayne Eyre, GEN – Commander of the Canadian Army and Chief of Defence Staff.
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