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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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In the air entire from Germany. We landed on the 17th.
One of our CEV crews fired a 90mm round to break up the coke around the first oil well fire they were able to put out.
We were given memos saying we lived within 50 km of the oil well fires for 30 days or more, so we could use them for VA claims should we need them.
Plus all the pictures we have as evidentiary proof.
It was probably closer to 45 days we went without sunlight.
One of our CEV crews fired a 90mm round to break up the coke around the first oil well fire they were able to put out.
We were given memos saying we lived within 50 km of the oil well fires for 30 days or more, so we could use them for VA claims should we need them.
Plus all the pictures we have as evidentiary proof.
It was probably closer to 45 days we went without sunlight.
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I was in the field with the 82D in DCU's on an FTX called Internal Look. I pulled up Prodigy and saw the headlines of Hussain moving the troops into Kuwait. I ended up going on Emergency Leave to Germany. A week later I was at Rhien Main trying to hope back to the US seeing part of my unit going the other way. I got back to Ft Bragg and 48 hours later on a 141 enroute to Saudi. When Storm kicked off, I was in Rafa watching the jets fly over with my NVGs'. I was the 82D ABN Frequency Manager.
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I was on the Iraq Border in Western Saudi Arabia. We had just gotten our vehicles that day as we had been conducting dismounted patrols up to and along the been in the 18th Airborne Corps Zone.
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About 1/2 of my USAR unit deployed as fillers in other units to bring them up to operational levels. As for myself, I was stateside when the DS/DS began. I heard of it as a news report on my truck radio as I was responding to my DA Civilian position on an emergency over time call.
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I was working in Hafer El Batin at KKMC teaching Saudi Soldiers how to maintain American tanks and artillery.
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I was downtown at a club the music went silent and the DJ announced Operation pig repeat operation pig....taxis were lined up and took us all back to our barracks. buses were already there and a chain of people were throwing gear on board. Grabbed my gear and went to sleep on a bus and woke up later for a briefing on our mission.
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