National security

Who is H.R. McMaster? 3 things to know about Trump's national security adviser

McMaster, 55, served in the U.S. Army for more than three decades, earning numerous medals and honors, including a Purple Heart and the Silver Star for his heroism during the Gulf War – particularly during the Battle of 73 Easting.

It was during the Battle of 73 Easting – a Desert Storm tank fight in 1991 – that then-Captain McMaster’s group of only nine tanks took on – and destroyed – more than 80 Iraqi tanks and a variety of other vehicles, according to Time’s profile of McMaster when he was named one of the magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. His troop did not lose one tank.

In a 2016 essay about the battle, McMaster described the “furious action” that lasted 23 minutes. He said his troop “stopped when there was nothing left to shoot.”

“Although future battles will likely be fought against more capable enemies and under more challenging and complex conditions, there are lessons from battlefield victories twenty-five years ago that remain relevant to combat readiness today and in the future,” McMaster wrote. “Well-trained, confident platoons and companies provide the foundation for our Army’s and Joint Force’s ability to fight.”