1991

Feb. 1

First of six alerts over a 26-day period identified on tape from MM-1 mobile spectrometer used by 24^th Infantry Division

• Fox Alerts in the 24th Infantry Division Case Narrative Final Report

Feb. 8

Smoke from the burning oil wells first visible from satellite images

Feb. 21

Award of the National Defense Service Medal is authorized

• Information on Medals for Service in the Gulf War

Feb. 23

By late February Iraqis had ignited nearly 700 oil wells in Kuwait

• Oil Well Fires Environmental Exposure Report
• Particulate Matter Environmental Exposure Report
• RAND Report: A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses, Volume 6: Oil Well Fires

Feb. 24

Allied ground assault begins at 4 a.m. (Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. eastern time)

Feb. 24

11th Marines battalions entered Kuwait, moved north, and began crossing the two obstacle belts in southern Kuwait

• 11th Marines Case Narrative

Feb. 24

U.S. Marine Corps forces began the liberation of Kuwait by breaching (clearing a path through) Iraqi minefields that stretched across southern Kuwait so that they could engage Iraqi ground forces

• US Marine Corps Minefield Breaching Case Narrative Final Report

Feb. 25

Iraqi Scud destroys US barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 28 US soldiers

Feb. 25

During the night an alarm was reported by Fox vehicle #5604—commanded by Gunnery Sergeant George Grass, Task Force Ripper—as a blister agent detection. Alert not confirmed by M256A1 Chemical Weapons Detector Kits

• Al Jaber Air Base Case Narrative
• M256 Series Chemical Agent Detector Kit Information Paper

Feb. 28

Cessation of hostilities declared at  8:01 a.m. (12:01 a.m. eastern time)

Feb. 28

US Central Command tasked the US Army Central Command to survey suspected chemical and biological warfare weapons storage sites in their area of operations

• ARCENT Suspected Chemical Weapons Sites Investigation Close-Out Report
• Possible Post-War Use of Chemical Warfare Agents Against Civilians By Iraq Close-out Report

Feb. 28

Fox vehicle belonging to Task Force Ripper reported alerting on traces of three different chemical agents within 100 meters of each other at an Ammunition Supply Point located southwest of Kuwait International Airport, in the vicinity of map coordinates QT75393910

• Fox Detections in an ASP/Orchard Case Narrative
• The Fox NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle Information Paper