That was 30 years ago today as his Marine Corps division launched the ground assault into Kuwait.
Military commanders had predicted heavy casualties as U.S. troops were about to invade the tiny, oil-rich country as part of a United Nations-led coalition. The allied forces intended to free Kuwait from the grip of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who had invaded his neighboring county in August 1990.
Despite initial mortar fire, rife fire exchange, minefields, barbed wire, deep defensive trenches and a few tank battles elsewhere, Archer and the great majority who served in the air war and then the quick ground war survived.