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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 History class , my Junior year in highschool with the TV on watching it unfold.
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During this 25 year of Desert Storm Anniversary I was at the Port of Al Jibal getting our LAV's off the RO-RO in prep to head north up the the Kuwait border. My Light Armored Infantry BN provided 2nd LAI provided Recon and screening to the 2nd Mar Div. I was the Gunner/VC on Vehicle 30 an LAV 25 Fighter variant. and Boy how I Loved that Hog. As a 0313 we loved riding into battle in an 8 wheeled drive amphibious assault vehicle. OOH Raah LAV's and please Pray for my Brother in arms dying of Cancer Matt Johnson who was the Platoon Sgt riding the Mangudai Warrior, and a Deputy Sherrif, May God give him a easy Ride home. Semper Fi Brothers.
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Cpl Robert Clark
I was so far forward w/ 3/9 that they called us "Speed Bump 3/9" then we took the airfield. Task Force Papa Bear "Sometimes the bear bites ya' baby."
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I was at Fort Gordon completing AIT. We had already been informed that we were shipping out immediately upon graduation in a few days and temporarily attached to a unit in Saudi Arabia.
I arrived to the central reception area and assigned to go North and west to the 101st Airborne Corridor. Every morning we would have the incoming scud missiles that acted like an alarm clock. The day after I moved to join the 101st is the day the patriot missile deflected the morning scud and it destroyed the reception area; injuring 97 reserve soldiers and killing 28, mostly from quartermaster unit unit from Pennsylvania. I was listed as missing by the Army because my records and tracking document were destroyed. The day the Ground war started I was in the middle of the desert just a bit south of the Irag border directly south of Baghdad.
After I came home, I remember how the story had grown and all my friends and hometown residents telling me they were sorry to hear about the soldier in my family that had been killed in desert storm. I always got a good laugh as I explained that the soldier was me. Now it is 24 years later and I am Retiring just a few days after the anniversary of the 100 hour war.
I arrived to the central reception area and assigned to go North and west to the 101st Airborne Corridor. Every morning we would have the incoming scud missiles that acted like an alarm clock. The day after I moved to join the 101st is the day the patriot missile deflected the morning scud and it destroyed the reception area; injuring 97 reserve soldiers and killing 28, mostly from quartermaster unit unit from Pennsylvania. I was listed as missing by the Army because my records and tracking document were destroyed. The day the Ground war started I was in the middle of the desert just a bit south of the Irag border directly south of Baghdad.
After I came home, I remember how the story had grown and all my friends and hometown residents telling me they were sorry to hear about the soldier in my family that had been killed in desert storm. I always got a good laugh as I explained that the soldier was me. Now it is 24 years later and I am Retiring just a few days after the anniversary of the 100 hour war.
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So! kinda neat, looking back at the calendar on that date and year...when Iraq invaded Kuwait, I was, at that moment, in ft jackson SC. completing my A.I.T. for 75e personnel actions specialist. I was currently in the 2122nd USAG Reserve HQ co. As a pfc.. constantly surrounded by brass, which i completely took for granted, just for the thrill, I through my name in the figurative hat during a December 90 drill. At the assembly, January 12-13 of 91. I was informed by a Cpt. whatsherface, that they were cutting orders for me to ship on the 15th of January.. !! Didnt think theyd call me on it...There I was going to Ft. Benning, for a 2 week crash course on driving heavy expandable mobile tactical trucks, known as a hemmit, semi aquatic multi fuel etc etc..so, NO i never was part of shield only storm, I ended up being attached to the 418th transportation co, out of ft. hood tx.. According to the internet, dosent appear to be a functional company anymore, but that particular unit, was in fact attached to the 1st cav...The Co Sgm, told me it was one of the most recognizable patches in the military...so...When i returned from that short tiny deployment...I was pretty done...I shunted over into the IRR, and about a year later received an honorable dd214 RE code of 1..then a million years went by...Re-enlisted with a friend into the navy seabees just a year before 911, when that occurred, my friend and i, silently joined the 1/184 inf. as a 31 year old e4...wIth a 1st cav combat patch..in the infantry..was a bit...of a laff, to say the least...2 deployments later...yawn...learned I should have simply joined the Infantry....to begin with....
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About 30km NNE of Hafir Al-Batin if memory serves me right. That's what I was told by my PL at least.....
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I was somewhere in and around the north eastern Saudi Desert. Cutting "squares" in the sand in the back of an AAV. A young Lance Corporal, acting as the RTO fro my Mortar Section.
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I was a few weeks away from turning 7 years old. So I think I was either in 1st or 2nd grade...?
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I was sitting on the top of a berm in a forward area called Lonesome Dove drinking hot orange soda and eating funyons and watching what looked like every star in the sky heading for the border. Every now and then we could see the flash of the bombs exploding and feel the concussion. We did not know what tomorrow would bring but we enjoyed the light show that night. Personally, I slept that night with a round in the chamber and my boots on.
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I was probably drawing on the walls or discovering other ways to raise hell considering I was two years old at the time.
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