Maj. Gen. Barry McCaffrey
Commander, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized)
"We will not let them escape. We will fight them until they surrender or they're destroyed."
Biography
Barry McCaffrey commanded the 24th Infantry Division — the 'Victory Division' — during the most audacious advance of the Gulf War. On the far western flank of the Left Hook, McCaffrey's mechanized division drove 300 miles into the Iraqi desert in 40 hours, reaching the Euphrates River and cutting off the main Iraqi escape route from Kuwait. In a single day of combat, the 24th destroyed over 300 vehicles and shattered two Iraqi divisions. After the ceasefire, McCaffrey's division was involved in a controversial engagement at the Rumaila oil field that killed several Iraqis — his defenders called it a response to unprovoked fire, critics called it a ceasefire violation. He was investigated and cleared. McCaffrey later served as President Clinton's drug czar and became a prominent military commentator.
Did you know?
McCaffrey was the most decorated officer of his generation — he received the Distinguished Service Cross (America's second-highest valor award) twice. After the Gulf War, he was investigated and cleared of allegations that his division attacked retreating Iraqi forces after the ceasefire — a controversy that shadowed his career.
Key Battles
Operation Desert Sabre — The Left Hook
Coalition Forces victoryFebruary 24, 1991 · 8,148 total casualties
The 'Left Hook' stands as one of the most brilliantly executed ground maneuvers in modern military history — Schwarzkopf's deception plan kept 13 Iraqi divisions watching the coast while the real blow fell hundreds of miles to the west.
Battle of 73 Easting
Coalition Forces victoryFebruary 26, 1991 · 851 total casualties
The Battle of 73 Easting — 23 minutes that destroyed an entire Republican Guard brigade — demonstrated the overwhelming technological superiority of the M1A1 Abrams and became a case study in combined arms maneuver warfare taught at war colleges worldwide.
Highway of Death
Coalition Forces victoryFebruary 26, 1991 · 1,000 total casualties
The Highway of Death became the war's most controversial episode — a legitimate military target to coalition commanders, an image of one-sided slaughter to the world, and one of the images that convinced President Bush to call a ceasefire after just 100 hours.
Life Journey
Timeline
November 17, 1942
🌅 Birth
Born in Taunton, Massachusetts
June 1964
📚 Education
Graduated from West Point; commissioned as infantry officer
1966
⚔️ Battle
First Vietnam tour — wounded twice; earned first Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary valor
1969
⚔️ Battle
Second Vietnam tour — earned second DSC; by war's end was most decorated officer of his generation
1990
📍 Posting
Assumed command of 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia
February 25–26, 1991
⚔️ Battle
Led 24th Division on a 300-mile dash to the Euphrates, cutting off Iraqi retreat from Kuwait
1996–2001
🕊️ Postwar
Served as Director of National Drug Control Policy ('Drug Czar') under President Clinton