Movies
Movies To Watch On The 35th Anniversary Of Operation Desert Storm – Memorial Dedication Ceremony October 24 In Washington D.C.
In 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Within 24 hours, Iraq’s military occupied its southern neighbor and controlled nearly 30% of the world’s oil supply. Iraq’s brutal dictator then set his eyes on Saudi Arabia. President George H.W. Bush recognized Saudi Arabia’s important role in the region and launched Operation Desert Shield. As the deployment of American combat forces in Saudi Arabia grew, President Bush issued a mandate to Hussein stating that all Iraqi troops must leave Kuwait by January 15, 1991. The deadline passed with Kuwait still occupied by Iraqi forces. On January 17, 1991, the United States led an international coalition against Iraqi forces, a campaign known as Operation Desert Storm. President Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28, 1991, and proclaimed the successful liberation of Kuwait..
Roughly 600,000 American troops were deployed in support of both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm; 375 died.
Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm were remarkable examples of American leadership, values, and sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom and at long last a National Desert Storm Memorial is being built to honor our military heroes.
The Memorial will fall within the shadow of both the Lincoln and Vietnam Veterans Memorials, abutting the National Mall. The Memorial’s site is at the southwest corner of Constitution Avenue and 23rd Street Northwest, Washington, D.C.
The National Desert Storm Memorial Association’s Dedication Ceremony will be open to the public and the ceremony will be Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. EDT.
Scott C. Stump, President/CEO of the National Desert Storm Memorial Association, said, “It has now been more than 15 years since I first conceptualized and began the work of making the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial a reality. As we enter the homestretch in 2026, I am deeply gratified to know that this vision will soon be realized on the National Mall. I am profoundly thankful to those who embraced and supported this initiative through the years, and who stood with us throughout this arduous journey.”
Saturday marks the 35th anniversary, January 17, 1991, and to honor these heroes’ sacrifice, here’s a list of movies dedicated to their bravery.
National Desert Storm Memorial Association
THE HEROES OF DESERT STORM
The Heroes of Desert Storm is a 1991 American television docudrama that chronicles the events of the Persian Gulf War’s Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The film focuses on the human stories of servicemen and women. The movie features an ensemble cast portraying real soldiers and personnel, including Angela Bassett as Lieutenant Phoebe Jeter and Daniel Baldwin as Sergeant Ben Pennington. The cast also includes Michael Champion, Ken Foree, Gary Hershberger, Laura Leigh Hughes, and Kris Kamm portraying other real individuals involved in the conflict.
THANKS OF A GRATEFUL NATION
Explores the medical aftermath and long-term effects of the war on service members. The film dramatizes the plight of several soldiers, including Chris Small (Matt Keeslar) and Jared Gallimore (Steven Weber), who experience debilitating health issues after returning home. They face skepticism and denial from the U.S. government regarding the cause of their illnesses. The story follows Jim Tuite (Ted Danson), a retired Secret Service agent and Vietnam veteran, who teams up with Senator Donald Riegle (Brian Dennehy) to lead an official investigation into the mysterious health problems and potential cover-ups by the Department of Defense.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Directed by Paul Greengrass, the 1996 film The One That Got Away, starring Paul McGann, is set during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield, specifically depicting the mission of an SAS patrol behind enemy lines in January 1991, just as the conflict began.
COURAGE UNDER FIRE
A soldier discovers how elusive the truth can be in this first major film about America’s role in the Gulf War. Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) was the commander of a unit during Operation Desert Storm who mistakenly ordered the destruction of what he believed to be an enemy tank, only to discover that it actually held U.S. soldiers, including a close friend. Since then, Serling has been an emotional wreck, drinking heavily and allowing his marriage to teeter on the brink of collapse. As a means of redeeming himself, Serling is given a new assignment by his superior, Gen. Hershberg (Michael Moriarty). Capt. Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) was a helicopter pilot who died in battle during the Iraqi conflict, and the White House has proposed that Walden be posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Serling is asked to investigate Walden’s actions on the field of battle, but he quickly discovers that no two stories about her are quite the same; Ilario (Matt Damon) says Walden acted heroically and sacrificed herself to save the others in her company, while Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillps) claims she was a coward who was attempting to surrender to enemy troops. Meanwhile, reporter Tony Gartner (Scott Glenn) is hounding Serling, trying to get the inside story on Walden and on Serling’s own difficulties.
JARHEAD
Directed by Sam Mendes, JARHEAD is set during the Gulf War, specifically covering the period of Operation Desert Shield (when Marines were deployed to Saudi Arabia) and the beginning of Operation Desert Storm, focusing on a U.S. Marine sniper’s experiences with boredom, training, and anticipation of combat, rather than extensive fighting, as depicted in Anthony Swofford’s memoir.
Oscar winner Jamie Foxx stars with Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal in this unconventional war story that follows a soldier from boot camp to active duty in the deserts of the Middle East.
THE FINEST HOUR
While training to become elite Navy soldiers, Lawrence Hammer (Rob Lowe) and Dean Mazzoli (Gale Hansen) form a close friendship. When Hammer starts dating the beautiful Barbara (Tracy Griffith), Mazzoli also has a connection with her, but doesn’t act on it. Hammer ends up marrying Barbara, and Mazzoli gets stationed far away from the couple. However, Mazzoli still cares for Barbara, and he gets to see her again before he joins Hammer on a dangerous mission to Iraq, renewing their attraction.
BRAVO TWO ZERO
Bravo Two Zero’ is set during the 1991 Gulf War, specifically during the Operation Desert Storm phase, as the British SAS patrol was inserted into Iraq in January 1991 to find and destroy Scud missiles just as the air campaign began to neutralize Saddam Hussein’s threats. An eight-man SAS team was deployed deep behind Iraqi lines to locate and destroy mobile Scud launchers threatening coalition forces.
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