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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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Elementary School. I wrote a letter, for a class project. Don't know if it actually was sent.
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Fort Benning, GA in IOBC. We were out on the land navigation course listening in the war on a PRC-77.
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CW5 Jim Steddum
On the back of a 5-ton leaving a long drive to make my first phone call home. The Air campaign started before I got back to camp. It was pretty cool, but scary, to see the B52s fly North over head... only to hear the explosions and the burst in the distance minutes later.
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Wow I am getting old
I had just gotten out of the USMC and was thinking about either joining the marine reserves or national guard.
After I had joined the guard the marine reserves called me and asked if I wanted to go to the desert, and I stayed with the guard
I had just gotten out of the USMC and was thinking about either joining the marine reserves or national guard.
After I had joined the guard the marine reserves called me and asked if I wanted to go to the desert, and I stayed with the guard
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CAPT (Join to see)
Instructing in FA-18s at NAS Lemoore, CA. The war was practically over before I landed. The only tank I blew up in Desert Storm was at B-19 live target at NAS Fallon, NV lol.
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I was at Hickam AFB, HI in a unit that had equipment that could us a C-141 or C-130 to make an Airborne Command Post or the equipment could be set up in the field as a Command Post for US CICPAC. We were always on call to provide this equipment on a moments notice. We were called a couple of times but then stood down. The people in the unite I was in, wanted so much to go and do our part.
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MAJ Karen Shive
We stayed in the Bedouin city...... I pointed out that if that compound had been built for the bedouins there should have been at least corrals for their animals. There weren't any. No wonder the bedouins refused
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There I was...Jeddah Saudi Arabia...Watching B-52's launch into the black sky.
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