32 Years Ago Today

Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm.

Time sure flies...

v6,
boNes

Yup, back when I was a senior in high school and when CNN actually had objective journalism!

I was doing inventory at work, co-worker came out and told us we were at war.

Yeesh. I was at crew practice and when I hopped into the car to come home the war was on the radio.

I was working at Egghead Software at the time, and set up a TV in the store on the first day so people could see the updates as they shopped.

I was a Sgt in the army, and I thought ''oh she-ite''

I was working at Sizzler, we had a tv set up on the wall and were watching whilst flipping steaks.

I was still in Central America doing follow-on work after the invasion of Panama.

At work, they had multiple TV's brought in to the cafeteria. About a 400 seat cafe. CNN was on all of them. It was something new, watching war live.

I remember me and my sisters cried because Dad told us the world will end

Heh, and here I thought Sizzler was just a chain of mediocre restaurants in the Miami area. I used to go there all the time as a kid when I had no discerning appetite.

I'm sure you have enough interesting stuff there to write a book on.

I'd read it!

Absolutely crazy to think it was that long ago. I still have (and wear in the winter) my Desert Parka. Sometimes I think it was a different person that did all those things, but no, it really was me.

Dart. You look like a mean pit bull.

Dart was Army but I think he still qualifies for the "Devil Dog" label.

This Devil Dog? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_Dog Or This https://www.amazon.com/Drakes-Devil-Dogs-13-63-Count/dp/B005EOKSJ0

The USMC Devil Dog.

Dart you look so happy in that picture I am surprised that the Army didn't want to use it in recruiting posters! 😄

Not happening; but I’m in a book.

Oh, Army all the way!

A couple stories about that pic: First, Newsweek sent around a photographer to take pictures of us, and since I wasn't likely to tell him anything but The Right Words, I was told to escort him around. He asked to take some pics of me (sure), and then asked if I had mentally prepared what the letter to my RTO's mother would sound like should I have to write it. He got the expression he wanted, I reckon. Second, it was taken right at the eve of Desert Storm; the reason I didn't participate in the ground offensive proper is that a few hours later of his departure PFC Johnson decided to upload his SAW in the warmup tent prior to a patrol and accidentally sent three rounds flying. The first round hit my helmet that was on the floor, the second went through my left knee, and the third through the side of the tent.

I'm probably only one of a handful of guys who took a through-and-through from the back of the knee to the front with no real permanent damage.

Wow Dart. I'm glad to hear it was "just" your knee because it could have been much worse. Thanks for sharing that story!