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Desert Storm began 24 years ago on the evening of January 16 (US)/ the early morning January 17 (Middle East), where were you at?
January 16, 1991 began as a normal day, the operation in the Middle East was still called "Desert Shield", but turned out to be very hectic at the end of the day.
I was stationed with the 10th Mountain Division up at Ft. Drum, NY. Any military history buff knows that, save for one support battalion, no other units left for Saudi Arabia. There were, however, "onesies and twosies" picked from different units to fill the gaps of the of the units already over there.
As an Avionics Radar Repairer (35R), I didn't even think that I would go over there, until my squad leader called me during lunchtime. I was at the CQ desk, when he called asking for three 35R volunteers to deploy with a Reserve unit to the Middle East. Without hesitation, I told my squad leader that I would be the first volunteer. The other two "Romeos" volunteered later on.
After lunch, it was a mad dash to get the three of us through the whole deployment readiness process. This was completed later in the afternoon.
I was calling up different family members, letting them know that I'll be leaving for Ft. Rucker and, a few weeks later, to Saudi Arabia. I remember that I had the TV on in my barracks room, watching ABC News with Peter Jennings, and being on the phone with my oldest brother. I was probably about five minutes into our conversation when breaking news came on from Baghdad- Operation Desert Storm had begun.
I was a bit shocked, but after I got over the initial shock, I knew that I had a job to do- serving my country.
So where were you when Desert Storm began? I'd like to hear your stories.
January 16, 1991 began as a normal day, the operation in the Middle East was still called "Desert Shield", but turned out to be very hectic at the end of the day.
I was stationed with the 10th Mountain Division up at Ft. Drum, NY. Any military history buff knows that, save for one support battalion, no other units left for Saudi Arabia. There were, however, "onesies and twosies" picked from different units to fill the gaps of the of the units already over there.
As an Avionics Radar Repairer (35R), I didn't even think that I would go over there, until my squad leader called me during lunchtime. I was at the CQ desk, when he called asking for three 35R volunteers to deploy with a Reserve unit to the Middle East. Without hesitation, I told my squad leader that I would be the first volunteer. The other two "Romeos" volunteered later on.
After lunch, it was a mad dash to get the three of us through the whole deployment readiness process. This was completed later in the afternoon.
I was calling up different family members, letting them know that I'll be leaving for Ft. Rucker and, a few weeks later, to Saudi Arabia. I remember that I had the TV on in my barracks room, watching ABC News with Peter Jennings, and being on the phone with my oldest brother. I was probably about five minutes into our conversation when breaking news came on from Baghdad- Operation Desert Storm had begun.
I was a bit shocked, but after I got over the initial shock, I knew that I had a job to do- serving my country.
So where were you when Desert Storm began? I'd like to hear your stories.
Posted in these groups: 
Operation Desert Shield/Storm
Operation Desert Shield/Storm
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 371
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2AD FWD Garlstedt Germany attached to 1ID as the van in the NZ did the Hail Mary into Kuwait
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I was starting a new job in Johnstown, PA. If my military career had gone as I had wanted I would have retired on 1 OCT 1990.
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I was stationed at Ft Hood Tx, with 2nd Armored Division, 1st Tiger Brigade- 2nd 41st Infantry-
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In the First Class Mess APL-15 Living Barge in Support of USS California CGN-36, Bremerton, WA While she was in Drydock. Before all was said and done I would be in Subic Bay for Fiery Vigil and TAD Aboard USS Arkansas CGN-41 for the Transition from Desert Storm to Southern Watch.
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Det One Elf One, at King Abdul Aziz Airbase Dhahran KSA. Was there to Support the Elf One mission then it morphed into Desert Shield then Desert Storm. AWACS/Radar Liaison duties with the Saudi Air Force.
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Getting ready to go fly and assume the orbit along the Iraq/Saudi border on the Airborne Battlefield Command and Control (ABCCC) as an Airborne Communications Systems Technician where we provided communications relay and command and control for Close Air Support (ie the A-10) to the great folks fighting on the ground. 12 hour sorties every other day for the duration of Shield/Storm/Calm. We also coordinated with the TACPs embedded in the Army units for requesting CAS, and anything else they wanted (beans, bullets, mail).
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MSgt Anthony Youngblood
SSgt Donn Gallon - I closed up ABCCC in Tucson in 2002. Sad day in Air Force history, would have been a huge asset in Asscrackistan.
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Korea, Warrior Base. Requested xfer to active unit going to Desert Storm. Told no, your needed here, & then ended up doing a second rotation on DMZ then force reductioned out....What a pisser.
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I was at KKMC in Saudi , or suppose to be there, we were out on patrol of the border, when i saw my first British tornado fly over head, 30 days later, we went back to the same spot to knock a huge hole in the border walls , made of sand of course,
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Pretty sure I was asleep...somewhere, though I'd been promised I would be sent in the next wave of USCG Intel personnel.
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