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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 stationed at Fort Bragg when Desert Shield/Desert Storm started in Aug '90. I deployed to Saudia Arabia on 17 AUG and hit the ground the next day. It was a blistering 120 deg at the Airport. Lived in Saudia Nomad Tents to acclimatized to the heat for 14 days and then moved to my first of 3 locations while deployed there.
On Jan 16...I was on the Saudia/Iraqi border watching as we started firing off the Howitzers and the Paladins.
I was my companies Wiredog and Radio Operator...during that time.
On Jan 16...I was on the Saudia/Iraqi border watching as we started firing off the Howitzers and the Paladins.
I was my companies Wiredog and Radio Operator...during that time.
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I was flying into my deployed Air Base with 40 other maintainers in a Navy C-9. When we got off the plane our DCM met us and herded us to the medics so we could draw our nerve agent kits. The base was completely blacked out and the excitement for the night was a F-111 coming in IFE with battle damage one engine out and hung ordnance. Looking back as an Airman it was a pretty surreal night.
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I was in my cot at Sheik Isa Air Base in Bahrain with the 3rd Marine Air Wing. Had already been there sweating and sucking up sand for four months. The flight line was crazy with F/A-18s, F-16s, F-4s and EA-6Bs taking off.
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I was in Wildflecken getting ready to deploy we made it in time for the ground war as part of 1st Armored.
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Already in the area. We were at LOG Base Echo right off of MSR Green and co-located with 7th Corps headquarters. The Corps disappeared shortly after our return, yet here I remain. Somehow, that doesn't seem right... :)
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I was a CW2 in Hafr al Batin, KSA. Flew my old, reliable UH-1H Huey to VII Corps Main HQ when the sun came up. Was in B-4/159th Avn, 11th Avn Bde out Stuttgart, Germany. Our company is having a reunion again this year!
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I was sound asleep in a tent in the desert a few miles south of King Kahlil Military City, Saudi Arabia. I woke with daylight and was upset thinking I had missed meeting up with some Div IG folks with whom I was to drive to meet my unit and guide them to the new area we had been mapping out. Went to the IG tent a few hundred yards away to find all of them in full MOPP sitting around a radio. They were amazed I had slept through the (they claimed) extremely loud overhead passing of several cruise missiles. They were really pleased to see the MOPP wasn't needed. Troop movements were cancelled and I spent the next several days assisting the Div POA as he was inundated with civilian reporter/photographer teams.
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