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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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I was at the Sphere of the Invasion waiting on orders to launch into Iraq. I was in the Stryker Brigade 24th Infantry Div.
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I was at Baumholder, Germany with the 8th Inf Div (MECH) preparing to deploy to Desert Storm.
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I was somewhere in Northern Saudi Arabia around 17 km from the Iraq border. We were part of the FEBA rear maintenance facility. After the second day of the ground campaign I believe we were at the day five objective and supply lines were stressed. All 5 ton drivers and trucks were assigned to a transportation unit. I being a licensed 5 ton operator had the opportunity to travel into Iraq and setup refueling and resupply for the combat units. It was quite an awesome site of Bradleys and Abrams’ tanks spanning almost the entire horizon.
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Probably not interesting nor helpful, but...
I was a senior in high school, just turned 18, and when I heard on the radio Shield became Storm, I was driving on Dianne Street in North St. Paul Minnesota. ;-)
After the fact I learned my friend who graduated a year ahead of me was in the 1st wave of tanks that crossed the border and engaged targets.
I was a senior in high school, just turned 18, and when I heard on the radio Shield became Storm, I was driving on Dianne Street in North St. Paul Minnesota. ;-)
After the fact I learned my friend who graduated a year ahead of me was in the 1st wave of tanks that crossed the border and engaged targets.
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I had just started a new job w/ Stanley Associates working on the US Marine Corps pre-positioning program, and transferred from the 12th to 11th Group in VA.
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