Gonzales in Ascension Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

"The Mother of All Battles Has Begun!"

- Saddam Hussein, January 17, 1991

Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, May 7, 2016

1. The Mother of All Battles Has Begun Marker

Inscription.
As U.S.-led coalition forces began to unleash a ferocious air war on Iraq with Operation Desert Storm, Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein took to state radio, telling his people "the great duel, the mother of all battles has begun...the dawn of victory nears as this great showdown begins!” Of course, Saddam's prediction turned out to be dead wrong. The war took only a little over a month and ended in Iraq's total defeat. Many Iraqi soldiers did not even put up a fight and surrendered quickly to coalition forces. It was no "mother of all battles," and the quote has been used ever since to mock Saddam's bluster, something that would be on display again when the U.S. went to war with Iraq for a second time in 2003.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm.

Location. 30° 13.694′ N, 90° 54.778′ W. Marker is in Gonzales, Louisiana, in Ascension Parish. Marker can be reached from South Irma Boulevard, 0.3 miles north of East Worthey Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gonzales LA 70737, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Persian Gulf War (here, next to this marker); Louisiana Marines in the Persian Gulf War (here, next to this marker); War on Terror: The Iraq War

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(here, next to this marker); The War on Terror: The Afghanistan War And The Iraq War (a few steps from this marker); The War on Terror: The Afghanistan War (a few steps from this marker); Ascension Parish Residents Fighting the War on Terror (a few steps from this marker); Purple Heart Memorial (a few steps from this marker); The Vietnam War (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gonzales.

More about this marker. Located in the Gonzales Veterans Memorial Park

May 7, 2016

2. The Mother of All Battles Has Begun Marker

May 6, 2016

3. The Mother of All Battles Has Begun Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2018, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 573 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2018.