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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 with the 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard) when it started.... was still there when it ended as well! No exciting stories to share here! LOL!
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG Wade Huffman , no worries! I was just curious as to where all the RP members were at the time. Some of them probably weren't even born yet.
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I was CQ runner at B co 4/12 infantry Baumholder, Germany when we heard on AFN radio the air war began. If I remember right that’s when it officially became Desert Storm.
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SGT (Join to see)
I was a CQ runner that day, too! I had someone else take my place as runner since I was deploying.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC William Laws I had a break in service ( a few times), but I'm a little over 20 now. Ten of it active.
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SFC (Join to see)
Even though we were an infantry unit, we didn't get to go. We were in the process of transitioning from M113's to Bradleys. We missed the boat on GW1.
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At work, was nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof that we'd be called in to go.
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With F Company 51st Infantry Long Range Surveillance Airborne
Everyone was in their fighting position,watching the B-52,s flying north and seeing the night ,lighting up in the far distance.
Everyone was in their fighting position,watching the B-52,s flying north and seeing the night ,lighting up in the far distance.
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I was on my home from work the evening of August 2nd, 1990 when a broadcaster broke into my radio program announcing that Iraqi forces had invaded the small Arabic country of Kuwait...and that American Forces were in route to Saudi Arabia. I was a SPC in the USAR, 279th Maint Co (LE) (GS). A few days later I was on orders preparing our unit to mobilize to Fort Hood. From there we landing arrived around the first of February and held up in Khobar Towers. We left the towers the day before the Iraqis dropped a Scud Missile on them.
We reached our grid two days later just North of Hafr al Batin. The directions we had were something like "tire with two white stripes, go North at azimuth..." I made a trip back to port to retrieve more equipment. While there I was awoke by our XO and two of our Warrant Officers in the night. They laterally promoted me to CPL then told me to report to CP across the lot. It was a briefing and sand table to start the ground war and my ride was going a different direction with medical supplies if needed. It was just me and one other truck (M915 and trailer, I think).
On that trip the second truck broke down. As reservist we had no radios, no recovery assets with us. Because of the supplies we made the decision was made to leave the truck and crew behind as they were in safe territory. My gunner and I gave them extra water and ammo then headed out. As we were making our turn to head into the dessert night we saw our first Scud, I was so worried that it might have hit the truck when it detonated. I later found out that it did hit in their area but actually hit the town of al Batin.
As we pulled into our Base Camp I grabbed the FSG and explained the situation. He gave me two CUCV's, a wrecker and more Soldiers to go get those guys. As we were screaming down the highway I saw something in he distance, like a giant shadow. It was my guys! They had the truck running but could only run with the transfer case in low range. They said the went to black out drive when they saw our head lights because they were a slow moving target, lol.
We did good work the rest of the time there. Receiving equipment for repair via air lift and ground transport. Cant believe its been so long ago, such a different Army and war now.
We reached our grid two days later just North of Hafr al Batin. The directions we had were something like "tire with two white stripes, go North at azimuth..." I made a trip back to port to retrieve more equipment. While there I was awoke by our XO and two of our Warrant Officers in the night. They laterally promoted me to CPL then told me to report to CP across the lot. It was a briefing and sand table to start the ground war and my ride was going a different direction with medical supplies if needed. It was just me and one other truck (M915 and trailer, I think).
On that trip the second truck broke down. As reservist we had no radios, no recovery assets with us. Because of the supplies we made the decision was made to leave the truck and crew behind as they were in safe territory. My gunner and I gave them extra water and ammo then headed out. As we were making our turn to head into the dessert night we saw our first Scud, I was so worried that it might have hit the truck when it detonated. I later found out that it did hit in their area but actually hit the town of al Batin.
As we pulled into our Base Camp I grabbed the FSG and explained the situation. He gave me two CUCV's, a wrecker and more Soldiers to go get those guys. As we were screaming down the highway I saw something in he distance, like a giant shadow. It was my guys! They had the truck running but could only run with the transfer case in low range. They said the went to black out drive when they saw our head lights because they were a slow moving target, lol.
We did good work the rest of the time there. Receiving equipment for repair via air lift and ground transport. Cant believe its been so long ago, such a different Army and war now.
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Floating around the mediterranean on the USS Guadal Canal on a regular old med float with 2/8 Marines as a combat engineer,Lcpl ,,,,next thing I know was sitting in Northern Iraq with some people called Kurds....The most ironic thing is I was back in that same part of the world Northerm Iraq, with 3rd ID USA as a SSG in 2010 for my last of 3 trips to Iraq................................
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Crossing the border from Saudi through the NZ into Iraq. Our command didn't show up for a couple days. Those were a memorable couple days to say the least and I came to really appreciate CAS. Saved my butt a couple times at least.
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I was in 4/7 INF, 3rd BDE, 3 ID (Attached to 1AD). We crossed the LD into Iraq and, during the four days, we ran over a half dozen Iraqi units. The longest firefight lasted about 15 minutes. On day four, we ended up in the perimeter of the Medina Division of the Republican Guard. They left a Brigade behind, as a blocking force, while the rest of the Division went to Basra to load up on HETT's to retreat back to Baghdad. I heard that a Battalion from the 24th Infantry Division rolled up on their equipment on the HETT's and just blew it to pieces.
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