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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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RAF Upper Heyford, UK. We provided refueling/re-provisioning services for the airflow going into the desert. We opened our clubs to 24 hour services for all those folks going into Saudi. We also set up large hospitals capable of handling the some 10,000 or more expected fatalities and 100,000 wounded. Happily, it never came to being used.
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I was with TACRON 11 on USS Tarawa (LHA-1). We had just finished an exercise in Yemen and just entered the Gulf.
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I was out of A.F. and working for Campbell Soup at that time...glued to the TV in the break room. Try to reenlist and got turned down...dang government.
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I was assigned at the time to the 1st Tiger Brigade, 2nd Armored Division, attached to the 1st Marine Division in support to tank operations, When the Desert Storm kicked off we were currently in the oilfields on the berms going in to Kuwait.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
Sgt Jesse Walton, the Desert Rats were first assigned to our 1stMarDiv. Then they wanted to see more action so our Division got you folks instead. Thanks for helping us out. I was with the 1st MarDiv G-6 Staff, then attached to DSSG-1, from 2nd FSSG, in trace of our Task Force through the oil fields, and the airport. Finally at Kuwait International Airport what was left of it. JK
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In Kansas Ft. Riley 1st INF 4-37Armor, loading up in a snow storm heading to Saudi Arabia!
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I was stuck at our school house (Navy EOD School) the entire time. They expected heavy casulties for our carreer field so they had put plans together for a 24 hour schedule in 12 hour shifts. Luckily we didn't have the high KIA events as predicted but I had to stay stateside while my peers deployed. Waah! LMAO
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I Landed in Al Jubal International on Aug 27th, stayed there through Mid January and ended up at Tanajib doing FARP Sites through to Lonesome Dove, Was at Mishab FARP for For the Battle of Khafji, That was a very Busy couple of days! Our Cobras came in Multiple time for reload! For my First Combat FARP it was training for the Others when the Push went! , the Final FARP was Lonesome Dove! Not very Busy persay, kind of reckless learning that our crap hole was a Meter away from a Mine! I dont think I took another poop for a week!!
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CWO3 (Join to see)
SSgt Tim Ricci, I was up at Mishab and Khafiji before the battle ever statred. I was with the 1st MarDiv G-6 Staff as the Assistant Electronics Maintenance Officer, CWO-2 headed towards Task Force Taro, 3rd Marine Regiment from Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
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