LETTERS FROM THE FIRST GULF WAR OPERATION DESERT
STORM/DESERT SHIELD
Dec. 20, 1990
I sometimes am afraid that we just won't be coming back. I know it's silly, it just
how I feel sometimes. I just wanted to let you know how appreciative I am of the care package
for Christmas
that you sent.... It is very nice to know that there are people out there, besides our
families, that are so thoughtful, and care so much about our cause. It's difficult to be
over here believing that all the backing we have is from our families, but with caring
people like yourself, it gives us more of an incentive, to go on, and it helps us
believe that there truly is a reason for us all being here, not only to defend our
families, but all Americans. Again, thank you. Support is everything.
Jan 24, 1991
Well, this sounds terrible, but when I woke up and found out we had started bombing
Baghdad during the night, I was relieved. The waiting was over. Of course, I wish we
didn't have to do anything but was glad to finally "get going." As bad as the bombing
will be, the ground offensive will be much worse. I am out of range of the scud missiles
right now but we could move at any time and I am worried about friends and coworkers that
are within range. We are under black out procedures at night and planes
land and take off constantly ferrying ammunition North. All we can hope for now is a
short war.
not dated
We have a bet going on about your age. I thought maybe you were 35 but the Col says he
doesn't think so.
He says your letters have a lot of wisdom and he thinks we should pay attention. He won't
tell us
what he knows about you. So, could you send a picture of yourself and tell us your age,
so we can settle
the bet?
3 Feb91
I’m the Squadron’s Medic. I make sure everyone stays healthy and take care of
everyone when they get ill or injured, needless to say I love my job. Thank you for
the goody bag. I needed the items you sent, I felt like a kid at Christmas. Your
thoughtfulness will never be forgotten. I live here with 7 other girls, in our tent. We keep each other in good spirits, this is our 2nd family. We have to depend on each other for strength here. I recently got married. My husband is also in the Air Force. We just bought our lst new home. We are so excited, & can’t wait to return home to decorate it & all that neat stuff. I recently graduated college. It took 9 years but I finally did it.
Now, since the war has started we are all under the gun. We have trained for
this and now it’s here. I can’t believe it. My husband is in Special Ops, so he
also is here with us in Saudi.
5 Feb 91
More and more people from this site are getting orders to move North. They are replaced
by reserve and guard personnel. I haven't moved and I don't think I will. Keeping my
fingers crossed because at this site I am out of range of the scud missiles and chemical
attacks. I really feel for the troops on the front line. Today a good friend came by my duty tent and said he is on his way into Kuwait. He is an OSI agent. I am worried about friends and coworkers and I have a relative in Riyadh. He said one of the Patriot rocket launchers is right next to his quarters. I guess he is spending most of his nights underneath his cot with his gas mask on.
We still receiving boxes and I got the Valentine box. Thanks. It It's s a real pick-me-up~ You
looked entirely too young to be the Mom of a 25 year old in the photo.
I know psychologists and counselors were in my daughters school right after we all left
in August. Probably 90% of the children at their school had a parent leave (or both parents).
I have been in the military long enough to realize that most times the "whole" unit doesn't
deploy down to the last person and they could work it so both parents wouldn't deploy to
a combat zone if they wanted too. Anyway, my youngest daughter came home upset after she
was placed in a group for counseling. Said she was the only one in her group that had a
Mom gone. She is handling it great though. ___ says when she gets a letter from me she
giggles and chuckles, reads it out loud to everyone. ________, the older one, on the other
hand, takes the letter, goes to her room and doesn't want to see anyone for the rest of
the day.
15 Feb 91
I’m at a new base now - its much bigger than the last one. Fighter aircraft and
special mission aircraft are all over the place . The A-10 aircraft, the tank
killer is here in large numbers and flying north 24 hours per day. The initial euphoria
over the Iraqi withdrawal statement was everywhere here. We actually thought we were
homeward bound. In a way it’s an opportunity to continue to crush his military machine
with few if any losses on our side. If we don’t take care of this matter now my
son will be in it in 5 years doing the same thing.
(Male pilot)
22 Apr 91
I arrived back home on 19 March after four GRUELING days of travel aboard a C-130 transport plane. That was an experience! If you aren’t familiar with C-130s, they are nothing like commercial planes. There are no bathrooms, no seats, no food, and it is very cold in the cargo bay. There is a urinal on the wall for the men, webbing running down the side of the plane for seating, and we were given bag lunches for meals. We were packed on our plane like sardines – about 60 men and 2 women. Since there was no bathroom, I didn’t dare drink anything the whole four days except when we stopped at night!
We flew to King Fadh. Saudi Arabia the first day to join up with other people from _____. The next morning we flew
to Crete and then on into England where we spent the night. The next day we flew to Iceland and then in to
Massachusetts where we again spent the night. The four day we flew on into _______. That is where we had
our homecoming ceremony. It was something none of us will ever forget. Flags waving everywhere, red
carpet. Lee Greenwood’s song “I”m Proud to be an American” playing. – I can’t even write about this without getting emotional.
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