November 12, 1965
Sergeant Jesus Gonzalez served in the intelligence section of the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operation Desert Storm and played a pivotal role in one of the most significant air-assaults of the Gulf War. As an analyst, Gonzalez discovered critical imagery and signs that the trench line—initially assessed as empty—was in fact occupied by a well-armed Iraqi force. Three days before the battalion’s insertion into Forward Operating Base Cobra, Gonzalez and Captain Jose Delgado briefed command with their findings and helped convince leadership to shift the landing zone. In the ensuing operation, the battalion faced hundreds of enemy troops in the area they had moved away from, validating Gonzalez’s analysis and helping preserve the combat effectiveness and lives of his fellow Soldiers. Gonzalez’s story spotlights how vital every layer of a unit is — from the analysts behind the scenes to the troops on the ground — and reminds us that victory often begins in the minds of soldiers long before boots hit sand.