January 29 - The Heroes of Desert Storm

Today’s combat film has a scene that happens today – January 29. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.  

THE HEROES OF DESERT STORM              

Iraq invades and terrorizes Kuwait. In the USA Marine aviator Guy Hunter has just moved with his family to Camp Pendleton, California. US military members and reservists react to the invasion as the American government and the UN try to decide how to react. Due to the activation of American forces Ben Pennington does not get to say goodbye to his father and brother, Lt. Phoebe Jeter does not get to see her dying grandmother, Daniel Maldonado will miss the birth of his child and Gary Buckholz has to get married in rushed ceremony.  A large number of American forces are moved to the Middle East. The bombing campaign begins. Ben Pennington is involved in a mission to destroy Iraqi radar sites. Stealth bombers and battleships attack the Iraqi positions. Capt. Steve Tate is conflicted after he shoots down an Iraqi jet. Back in Pennsylvania, Beverly Clark is dismayed to be activated and other families suffer through the separation. US pilot  Devon Jones is shot down over Iraq, but he is rescued by Ben Pennington. Guy Hunter is shot down and captured, while starving Iraqi soldiers surrender at the border. The Iraqis torture the prisoners they have captured. On January 29, 1991 [50:09 to 53:08] the Iraqis attack Khafji and Marine corp medic Crumes goes forward to treat the wounded. After Iraq stars firing Scuds , Lt. Jeters battery saves Gary Budkholz’s base, but learns that her grandmother has died. The Iraqis blow up oil wells and the invasion begins. Beverly Clark is killed in an Iraqi SCUD strike on a base in Dhahran. Two marines prevent the destruction of an Iraqi ammo dump. Beverly’s family learns of her death. An Iraqi convoy of fleeing vehicles is wiped out, resulting in the “Highway of Death”.   With the war over the troops return home to cheers and hugs.    

A docudrama war film. Combines actual footage with filmed sequences. In tone it is almost a propaganda film. Released only seven months after the events it portrays. 

Desert Victory: The War for Kuwait by Norman Friedman ( Naval Institute Press,

Annapolis, MD, 1991) at page 198 gives the date of the start of the battle.

Producer -  Johanna Persons

Director - Don Ohlmeyer

Screenplay - Lionel Chetwynd

Runtime – 1 hour 32 minutes

Released – October 6, 1991

Starring – Angela Bassett as Phoebe Jeter

                 Daniel Baldwin as Benjamin Pennington

                 Steven Williams as ‘Big John’ Alston

                 Laura Leigh Hughes as Beverly Clark

                 Michael Champion as Guy Hunter

                 Gary Hershberger as Steve Tate