This timeline shows the major events of the United States' involvement in the United Nations' action to liberate the nation of Kuwait from occupying Iraqi forces.

1990

Aug. 2

Iraq Invades Kuwait

Aug. 7

Operation Desert Shield begins

• Biological Warfare Investigation Close-Out Report
• Water Use Close-out Report

Aug. 7

First U.S. Forces—F-15 Eagle fighters from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia—arrive in Saudi Arabia

Aug.

Beginning in August 1990, US Navy preventive-medicine personnel and scientists began evaluating disease risks among deployed troops

• Medical Surveillance During Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm Information Paper
• Military Medical Recordkeeping During and After the Gulf War Information Paper
• RAND Report: A Review of the Scientific Literature as it Pertains to the Gulf War Illnesses, Volume 1: Infectious Diseases

Aug. 12

First Operation Desert Shield-related US death

Aug. 22

President George Bush authorizes first call-up of Selected Reservists to active duty for 90 days, by executive order.

Call-up widened in subsequent authorizations; period of service extended to 180 days on Nov 12, 1990, by executive order

Sept.

A group of approximately 16 Department of Defense civilians from Anniston Army Depot established the first large-scale, in-theater painting operation at the port of Ad Dammam

• Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) Environmental Exposure Final Report

Sept.

A team from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research arrives in the Gulf to begin the first of several efforts to discuss with soldiers issues such as stress and psychological status

• RAND Report: A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses, Volume 4: Stress
• RAND Report: Psychological and Psychosocial Consequences of Combat and Deployment with Special Emphasis on the Gulf War

Dec. 21

Food and Drug Administration issues the Interim Rule, "Informed Consent is Not Feasible" (FR 52814)

• Vaccine Use During the Gulf War Information Paper
• RAND Report: Military Use of Drugs Not Yet Approved by the FDA for CW/BW Defense
• RAND Report: A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses,
  Volume 2:Pyridostigmine Bromide