Chuck Horner is the most successful air commander since World War II. In the summer of 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and overran the country in two days. President George H.W. Bush declared Iraq’s aggression would not stand and began building a global coalition to contest Hussein’s invasion.
U.S. Central Command, led by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, was given a disappointing and dangerous war plan to liberate Kuwait—a frontal assault by ground troops into the heart of Iraqi defenses. Schwarzkopf turned to the Air Force and asked for an air alternative.
The story of how that air plan, “Instant Thunder,” developed is well known, but in truth, the plan was merely that—a proposal on paper. The air commander on the spot had to translate ambitious thoughts and predictions into a workable operation—that was Lt. Gen. Chuck Horner, who would serve as the Joint Force Air Component Commander in charge of all American and coalition combat aircraft in the theater.
When Desert Storm kicked off on Jan. 17, 1991, Horner had crafted a brilliant strategy that relied on airpower to gain air superiority, destroy the Iraqi Army in Kuwait, cut off its logistic supplies, and blank out command and control between fielded forces and their superiors in Baghdad. In six weeks, the air campaign decimated enemy forces—army, air force and navy. Over 87,000 Iraqi soldiers surrendered, virtually without a fight, and it is estimated another 80,000 deserted during the relentless air campaign. In late February when coalition ground forces finally moved, the enemy was already defeated, so the result was a largely unopposed advance. Turning military history on its head, Desert Storm saw ground forces supporting the dominant air campaign.
Horner was born in Iowa in 1936 and his young years were spent on a farm where he learned discipline, responsibility, and fundamental values: these would stick with him. He had his first airplane flight in 4th grade and became an avid fan of World War II stories. A lackluster student, he earned the minimum GPA to enter the University of Iowa, joined Air Force ROTC, and graduated in 1958 as a new lieutenant. He promptly married his hometown sweetheart, Mary Jo, and the couple was off to pilot training. From there it was F-100s. Following a near-death experience in Libya while on a gunnery range, his naturally fatalistic attitude took on a more religious tone. He had been saved for something significant.
In June 1965, he went to Vietnam in the F-105, and later returned for a second tour in “Wild Weasels.” These were deeply frustrating experiences. Like thousands of others in uniform, it was never made clear to him why he was there or what he was trying to achieve. He flew 111 combat missions to drop bombs and shoot rockets with little notion of the air strategy behind it, which was determined by those in Washington thousands of miles distant. He resented this fatal disconnect: “I was never going to let that happen if I ever got in charge, because it’s not right. If you want to know whether war is going to be successful or not, just ask where the targets are being picked. If they say, ’We picked them in Washington,’ get out of the country. Go to Canada until the war is over because it is a loser.”
He internalized those negative lessons. He bridled at the thought of a war strategy devised by those far away who did not understand. He was especially bitter at air superiors who knew the strategy was a losing proposition, but sent their men out to fight it anyway. He would remember.
As a result of Vietnam, the nation and its military changed dramatically. For the Air Force it meant control passing from the bomber pilots who had been in charge for three decades, to the fighter pilots who had fought the longest, flew the most, and suffered the greatest casualties in Southeast Asia. Horner would slowly climb the ranks.
After tours as a squadron, wing and air division commander, Horner pinned on his third star and took over Ninth Air Force, which also meant he was commander of CENTCOM’s air component and all coalition airpower in theater.
Schwarzkopf sent him forward to Saudia Arabia to bed down the massive air assets flowing into the region. He gathered an outstanding staff around him and began detailing an air campaign plan to defeat Iraq. The combination of stealth, precision guided munitions, space assets, intelligence, and solid leadership led to one of the most lopsided military victories in modern times. Horner attributed victory to having learned the negative lessons of Vietnam: the importance of clear political goals, adequate assets, and a strong coalition.
Afterward, Horner was promoted to general and took over Space Command, retiring from that position in 1994.
His memoirs were written with noted novelist Tom Clancy, titled “Every Man a Tiger,” and John A. Olsen has written a new biography, “The Generalship of Chuck Horner.” Both are outstanding.