The Aftermath
During the war, VII Corps soldiers destroyed thousands of tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery tubes. As the lightning battle swept over the Iraqi defenders, many of the enemy simply abandonded their positions, leaving behind vast stocks of weapons and ammunition.
Afterwards, VII Corps sent demolition teams on a sweep through the area, finishing the job the combat units started. They burned or blew up hundreds of abandoned vehicles and tons of supplies and weapons.
During the war, Saddam Hussein also ordered the destruction of Kuwait's oil wells and facilities. The black pall the fires threw out shadowed VII Corps soldiers moving into Kuwait. Soldiers entering the country saw the glow from the fires at night from miles away, a testimony to the destructive power of modern war.
Humanitarian Aid
Since the cessation of hostilities in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations Feb. 28, VII Corps units have provided humanitarian assistance to needy civilians. Those receiving aid have been displaced Kuwaitis returning to their homes and Iraqi refugees fleeing the civil war in Iraq.
By the beginning of April, humanitarian assistance included medical care and food distribution centers providing Meals Ready to Eat, water and bulk food. More than 52,000 lbs. of flour, 104,000 lbs. of rice, 29,000 cases of bottled water, 2,000 liters of infant formula, 6 pallets of baby food, more than 14,000 cases of Meals Ready to Eat, cleaning and sanitary supplies, and approximately 40,000 individual meals were distributed.
Seventh Corps-provided medical assistance included pre-packed humanitarian sick call and pediatric kits and two 5-ton truckloads of medical supplies.