⚓ FIRST TO FIRE?

USS Paul F. Foster and the Opening Moments of Desert Storm

Based on official USS Paul F. Foster historical records and deployment summaries

In the early morning darkness of January 17, 1991, the world changed.

For weeks, coalition forces had been building in the Persian Gulf under Operation Desert Shield, preparing for what many knew was inevitable. Diplomacy had failed, deadlines had passed, and out on the waters of the Northern Arabian Gulf, USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964) was already in position. Her crew didn’t need to be told what was coming—they could feel it.

Foster had departed Long Beach on December 8, 1990, beginning what would become one of the most historic deployments in her service life. During the long transit west, the ship took on additional Tomahawk missiles, trained relentlessly, and shifted from a posture of deterrence to one of combat readiness. By mid-January, she had moved farther north into the Gulf, closer to Iraq than most aircraft could safely operate, placing her squarely at the tip of the spear.

On the night of January 16, the message traffic began to pick up. Orders came in—launch orders. Nine Tomahawk cruise missiles were assigned to USS Paul F. Foster. Shortly after midnight, the call echoed throughout the ship: “General Quarters, General Quarters.” Sailors moved quickly and with purpose. Months of training took over. From the ship’s own historical record, “The Strike Team went into automatic… We planned. We rehearsed. We checked. We waited.”

In the darkness, the ship held steady. Around them were oil platforms, unseen threats, and the uncertainty of war about to begin. Somewhere beyond the horizon lay Iraq. The crew watched, listened, and waited for the moment.

Then it came.

“The morning stillness was punctured by a monstrous roar…”

At approximately 0140 local time, a Tomahawk missile erupted from the forward launcher. Fire and smoke lit the deck as the missile climbed into the night sky, beginning its long journey inland. For a brief moment, all eyes followed it—then came confirmation. The missile was on course.

That launch was not just another drill, not another exercise. It was real. It was war.

According to official records, the salvo of Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from USS Paul F. Foster constituted the opening salvo from the Persian Gulf in the early morning hours of January 17, 1991. Later confirmation from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command identified it as the “first shot” from the Arabian Gulf.

Foster would go on to launch nine Tomahawk missiles that first night, firing in multiple salvos as part of a coordinated strike that marked the beginning of Operation Desert Storm. Within minutes, other ships joined the attack, but USS Paul F. Foster was among those at the very front of it.

The opening night was only the beginning. Over the next several days, Foster continued launching Tomahawk missiles in sustained combat operations, ultimately firing a total of forty during the campaign—more than all but one U.S. Navy ship during the war. Each missile struck targets deep inside Iraq, helping dismantle command and control systems and clearing the way for follow-on air and ground operations.

But Foster’s role extended far beyond missile strikes. Serving as the flagship for Destroyer Squadron Seven, she participated in anti-surface warfare operations that helped neutralize Iraqi naval forces during the Battle of Bubiyan Island. Her embarked helicopter detachment worked alongside coalition forces to locate and destroy enemy patrol boats, contributing directly to the elimination of Iraq’s naval threat. The ship also supported mine warfare operations and responded during the aftermath of USS Princeton striking a mine, demonstrating the versatility and resilience of both ship and crew.

For her performance during Desert Storm, USS Paul F. Foster and her Sailors were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Southwest Asia Service Medal, and Kuwait Liberation Medal—recognition of a job done with precision, professionalism, and determination.

What happened in those early hours of January 17 was more than just the start of a mission. It marked a turning point in naval warfare. The ability to strike deep inland from the sea with precision-guided weapons had arrived, and ships like USS Paul F. Foster proved just how effective that capability could be.

For the crew, however, it was simpler than that. They had trained for this moment. When the order came, they executed.

And in doing so, the crew of USS Paul F. Foster played a role in one of the most decisive military victories in modern history.