My picture from Desert storm.

Some of them are from 73 easting.

This is the battlefield today. There is destroyed Iraqi armor everywhere.

73Easting.jpg (image)

 

Thank you for sharing the photos with us.

 

I was with the 1st infantry division. I know we covered over 200 miles in that desert and I bet we destroyed around a 1000 tanks and apcs when it was all said and done. There is so much I could share but it would be so time consuming.

 

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Take your time, but I'm sure lots of us would like to hear your story as long as its beneficial and not a burden to you.

Thank you for the post and your service!

 

I entered the U.S. Army May 15 1990. There was a part of me that was anxious and a part of me that was scared. I had never been away from home for a long period of time. I did not know what to expect. I did my basic and ait at Ft Sill. I met some good people during that experience and some bad. The first month for me was very tough as I was homesick but after that things got better. I completed my training and arrived at my duty station in Garlstedt, Germany. It was very cold there and out in the middle of nowhere. I was in culture shock. I met my first sergeant who was not the best person. He was a inner city guy and it really showed. I don't believe he liked me. I was/am a very quiet person but I am very blunt. I believe political correctness is for the weak. This caused me some problems at first until I matured. My section chief was considered by the others a major screwup. He was very book smart but lacked common sense. He even openly admitted it. He clashed with the first sergeant. I believe this led to him taking his frustrations out on us especially me. I believe he felt threatened by me. I had three years of college under my belt and had learned alot because my life had not been easy growing up. I believe he felt I would sell him out to the first sergeant and platoon sergeant who both seemed out to get him. Things were not easy for me at first. I became very homesick and this effected my performance at first. My section chief did not help much. He seemingly did not know how to teach or share his knowledge of field artillery. A couple specialists took me under their wings and I learned alot from them. We were out in the field and I had only been in Germany for maybe a week. I was not even fully in-processed. I remember being very cold and I was a very green troop. I suffered alot that first field exercise due to my lack of experience and having a unorganized section chief. I eventually learned from my experience and from the other soldiers. We were out in the field when we were notified about being deployed to desert shield. I did not know what to think at the time I first heard. I know life was about to change. We worked seven days a week and probably 16 hour days to prepare for our deployment. We eventually arrived in Saudi Arabia. The port was beautiful. We had to wait for our equipment and we stayed in these giant warehouses. We trained on basic soldiering skills as we waited for our equipment to arrive from Germany. Once it did we busted ass to get prepared. At first we were told we were going to play a minor role in the grand scheme of things. We would pull guard duty on pows and things of that nature. I thought to my self the 2nd armored div(fwd) had just received new M-1 Abrams tanks and we were going to play a small role....hmmm. Finally we got word that the 1st infantry div needed more firepower so they attached us to their division as their third brigade. I was kind of scared considering our M-109A2s were not in the best condition. They were old and it showed. We finally got the word to move out into the desert. I noticed alot of people were scared especially those who were married and had children. They wondered if they would see them again. I was single and this made it easy. I had just started a relationship with a nice German girl but I was not in love. This made things relatively easy for me. This is what I joined the army for. My family is one of many veterans. I had relatives who fought in every major war the U.S. had fought in. I had other ancestors who served Germany in world war two. This was in my blood.Some of my leadership was worried about me. I openly questioned my section chief's leadership abilities and had other concerns. I was also quiet which can scare people. Once we moved out into the staging areas I was full of adrenaline. Others around me who had talked tough seemingly became more timid. I noticed a couple of the other "quiet" guys were starting to show they too had another side. My battery commander had misread his map. We ended up on the very front with the heavy armor. I woke up to the sounds of battle. I jumped out of my M-992 ammo vehicle and witnessed some Abrams mopping up some Iraqi armored vehicles just around the area where the Iraqis had spent months building obstacles. It took awhile to breach the main obstacle. They told us we would provide fire support for the main force once things started. We performed some artillery raids which were exciting and fired hundred of rounds before we even began the main assualt. I saw many of our aircraft traveling in pair going in for their missions. The air campaign had begun a few weeks earlier. I had not had a shower in two weeks. Some mlrs units had showed up to support us and it was amazing watching their firework display. We had also received some volunteers from from another unit in Germany which strengthened our battery especially my undermanned section. They were good soldiers. For a couple weeks we did fire missions continually before the main assualt. We were told we hit and disabled or destroyed several tanks and other armored vehicles. Finally the main assualt had begun. We were part of 7 corps. The infantry and armor units started to pour across the paths made in the main obstacle into Iraq. We started fire missions but did not know many details. Finally we packed up and followed the armor into Iraq. I saw many burning Iraqi tanks and other vehicles. I saw what was mostly dead bodies of the Tawakalna republican guard division. I saw some Apaches go overhead of us. I could see them launching their hellfire missiles and I saw some total hell being dealt to the Iraqis. There were explosions and burning vehicles everywhere. We supported 1-41 infantry and all of a sudden they came over our radios. They were screaming for fire support. We fired mostly HE rounds which also had a rocket on them to give them more range. I had never seen them before or my three years in service after desert storm. There was this little cap in the rear of the round. We removed them and there was like a hole and when the rounds were fired you could see the flame shooting out of that hole. We fired many rounds and finally moved again after a few hours. The entire desert looked the same. It was full of burning Iraqi equipment and dead bodies. I became excited about our success. My section chief told me he was shocked at how I was handling things and that there were alot of people being killed out here. I said this is what I joined for and the other members of my section were giving our section chief hell telling him he was talking all this crap in the rear and now he had become a "marshmellow man". We had a couple guys who did not handle things well at all. They were very scared and could not think straight. To me this was the most exciting thing I had ever witnessed in my life. We stopped to refuel and we had Abrams tanks around us protecting us. We would go one vehicle at a time to refuel. A couple Iraqi tanks broke through our perimeter and all hell broke loose. It happened about fifty feet from me. It was dark and raining. I saw one abrams get hit in the side and catch on fire. Then I saw another one get hit by another abrams that got disoriented with all that was going on. This really rattled some people seeing it happen so close to us. We were artillery and not supposed to see combat this close. Finally it was all over. We then got some sleep for a few hours. The next three days were more of the same. The advance party guys were really busy. They constantly were moving to set up other areas for us to fire from. I had to go with them a few times because our designated guy twisted his ankle. It was exciting but I would be lying if I said I was not a little scared. It finally came to a end. We had traveled over 200 miles in 100 hours. Our brigade sized division had lost five abrams and two bradleys when it was all said and done. The infantry units had some guys killed and wounded.

 

Great photos and bio of yourself.

 

Thanks for sharing CBIWV! Contolling fear on the battlefield is something one really never knows how you'll react until you're under fire. Thanks again for your service!

 

very interesting Bio , thank you for sharing this with us.

 

Stats for each division during Desert Storm

1st Armored division
In November of 1990, Old Ironsides was alerted for deployment to the Middle East in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In less than two months the Division moved 17,400 soldiers and 7.050 pieces of equipment by rail, sea, and air to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. On February 24, 1991, the 1st Armored Division crossed into Iraq to begin Operation Desert Storm as the leading unit in VII Corps' main flanking attack. Its mission was to destroy the elite Iraqi Republican Guards Divisions. In an 89-hour blitz across the desert, Old Ironsides traveled through 250 kilometers of enemy territory. They destroyed 768 tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery pieces. The 1st Armored Division also captured 1,064 prisoners of war. Old Ironsides returned to Ansbach, Germany on May 8, 1991. Their triumph was celebrated by a visit from the Vice President of the United States and participation in victory parades in Washington D.C. and New York City.

1st Cavalry division
The First Team was well prepared to participate in the first conflict to use U.S. armor forces in significant numbers since World War II: the Gulf War that consisted of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-91. The 1st Cavalry Division was deployed with the two brigades it had assigned at the time and operated as the VII Corps reserve armor force. During the days leading up to the kickoff of the ground war, units of the Division probed the enemy defenses. The "100 Hour War" was over so quickly that the First Team only engaged in the last few hours of the conflict. However, their deep thrust into enemy territory destroyed elements of five Iraqi divisions.

1st Infantry division
Over a two month period the 1st Infantry Division deployed more than 12,000 soldiers and 7,000 pieces of equipment to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield, preparing for the impending Gulf War. On February 24, 1991 the 1st I.D. lead the armored attack for VII Corps into Iraq, starting Operation Desert Storm. The Division was responsible for the initial breach of the Iraqi defenses, and consequently rolled over the Iraqi 26th Infantry Division taking 2,600 prisoners of war. During the "100-hour War" the Big Red One assaulted through 260 kilometers of enemy territory, engaged eleven Iraqi divisions, destroyed 550 tanks and 480 armored personnel carriers, and took 11,400 prisoners. By the morning of February 28th the Division had assumed a blocking position along the "Highway of Death," preventing any enemy retreat. Perhaps due to this position, the Big Red One took nearly twice as many prisoners as any other allied unit during the Gulf War. The Division lost eighteen soldiers during the conflict.

2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the 2d ACR was a fully trained, combined arms combat unit, equipped with M1A1 Abrams Tanks and M-2 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicles. While the Regiment's peacetime mission had been defense and deterrence along the border, their wartime mission was to be the covering force for the U.S. VII Corps. In November of 1990 the 2nd ACR deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield (later Operation Desert Storm) where they would spearhead the VII Corps' attack. On the 26th of February 1991, the Regiment was heavily involved in blocking the Iraqi counterattack into Kuwait by seven of Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard Divisions. At a desolate spot deep in the eastern Iraqi desert the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment engaged the Tawakalna Division. This engagement became known as the "Battle of 73 Easting." The outcome of this battle was the destruction of the Iraqi armored force which earned the Regiment the Army's Valorous Unit Award. The actions against the Iraqi Divisions have become instructional examples of modern high intensity armored warfare.

2nd Armored division
The invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein in August 1990 caught the division in the midst of the post-Cold War draw down of the U.S. military. On October 10, 1990, the division began to deploy more than 5,000 soldiers to Saudi Arabia to participate in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The 2nd Armored Division's Second Brigade could not be deployed as it was in the middle of deactivating. The Division's 1st Brigade deployed to Saudi Arabia independently and participated in Operation Desert Storm by providing heavy armor for USMC forces in their attack into Kuwait. The 3rd Brigade - 2nd Armored Division (Forward) - based in Germany, conducted combat operations as the third maneuver brigade of the 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kansas. On February 24, 1991, the Second Armored entered Iraqi-held Kuwait. In 100 hours Allied Forces had taken back the country of Kuwait and defeated the Iraqi Army.

3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
On August 7, 1990, the Regiment was alerted to move overseas in defense of Saudi Arabia. In September 1990, the Regiment arrived in country as part of the XVIII Airborne Corps, and moved into defensive positions south of the Kuwaiti border. On January 22, 1991, elements of I Troop engaged in the first ground combat of the XVIII Airborne Corps. On February 22nd, F Troop led the Regiment across the berm into Iraq. In 100 hours, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment moved over 300 kilometers, and left remnants of three Iraqi Republican Guard Divisions in its wake. As quickly as they deployed, the Regiment deployed back to the U.S. arriving April 5, 1991.

3rd Armored division
On February 23, 1991 the 3d Armored Division crossed the Line of Departure into Iraq with the 1st Armored Division on their left and the 2nd Armored Cavalry on their right. The Iraqi Army was taken by surprise by VII Corps end run into Iraq. Most of the enemy forces were focused on defending the Kuwait border with Saudi Arabia. By the fourth day of the war, the Spearhead had advanced over 50 miles into Iraq and defeated all enemy forces they encountered, including divisions of the Iraqi Republican Guard. In the 100-hour Gulf War, 3AD destroyed hundreds of Iraqi tanks and vehicles, and captured more than 2,400 Iraqi prisoners, with 15 division troops killed between December 1990 and late February 1991.

3rd infantry division
On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait and posed a threat to Saudi Arabia. Units of the Rock of the Marne Division deployed with VII Corps from Germany for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The 3rd Brigade, 3ID was attached to the 1st Armored Division in their race through Iraqi territory in the "100-hour war." By the time the Persian Gulf War was declared over on February 28, 1991, the 3rd Infantry Division had destroyed 105 enemy tanks, 70 enemy armored personnel carriers, 92 enemy trucks, 4 enemy artillery pieces and captured 836 prisoners.

8th infantry division
The 2-29th Field Artillery Battalion from Baumholder served as part of VII Corps Artillery. The 12th Engineer Battalion from Anderson Barracks in Dexheim was deployed with the 3rd Armored Division. The 4-34th Armor out of Lee Barracks in Mainz deployed with the Ready First Combat Team. The 5th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery home based at McCully Barracks in Wackernheim deployed in support of 3rd Armored Division. Also TF 3-77 Armor from Mannheim deployed to Southwest Asia.

10th Mountain division
The modern 10th Mountain Division's first deployment came in 1990 when some Division units were deployed to support Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Although the Division didn't deploy to Southwest Asia as a unit, about 1,200 10th Mountain Division soldiers did go. The largest unit to deploy was the 548th Supply and Services Battalion with almost 1,000 soldiers. The 548th supported the 24th Infantry Division (Mech) as it drove into Iraq.

18th airborne corps
Operation Desert Shield began on August 9, 1990. The XVIII Airborne Corps rapidly deployed to Saudi Arabia as the first ground force in theater to spearhead efforts to deter aggression and assist in the defense of friendly nations. This was the largest deployment of American troops since WWII. The Persian Gulf War started with Operation Desert Storm in February of 1991. The Sky Dragons were responsible for covering VII Corps' northern flank. The XVIII Airborne Corp launched the first ground assault into Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division and the attached French 6th Light Armored Division. The largest, and farthest, air assault in history was conducted by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). A mounted attack was also made by the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. In less than 100 hours the XVIII Airborne Corps had effectively sealed off the occupying Iraqi Army and destroyed major elements of the elite Republican Guard.

82nd airborne division
They portected the left flank of 7th Corps during Desert Storm.

101st sirborne division
Since the end of the Cold War, the 101st has served proudly in the Persian Gulf War in January of 1991, conducting an air assault deep into enemy territory in the Iraqi desert. The Division sustained no soldiers Killed in Action during the "100 hour war" and captured thousands of enemy prisoners.

24th Mechanized infantry division

By the time of the cease-fire on February 28, the 24th Infantry Division advanced 260 miles and destroyed 360 tanks and other armored personnel carriers, 300 artillery pieces, 1,200 trucks, 25 aircraft, 19 missiles, and over 500 pieces of engineer equipment. The division took over 5,000 Iraqi prisoners of war while suffering only eight killed, 36 wounded, and five non-combat casualties.


1st Marine division
In 1990, the 1st Marine Division formed the nucleus of the massive force sent to Southwest Asia in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. During Operation Desert Shield, the division supported I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) in the defense of Saudi Arabia from the Iraqi threat. In 1991, the division went on the offensive with the rest of Coalition Forces in Operation Desert Storm. In 100 hours of ground offensive combat, the 1st Marine Division helped to liberate Kuwait, defeating the Iraqi Army in the process

2nd Marine division
In the liberation of Kuwait, the 2d Marine Division attacked approximately 25 kilometers to the northwest of the 1st Marine Division. Under the original concept of operations, the 2d Marine Division intended to follow the 1st Marine Division through their breaching lanes. However, early analysis and walk-throughs convinced everyone that this plan would not allow the speed required for the operation nor would it minimize the exposure to enemy fire. Consequently, the 2d Marine Division’s orders were changed to allow it to attack at this separate location to breach the minefield more rapidly and to generate the maximum offensive operational momentum. In this way, the 2d Marine Division could apply concentrated forces at the decisive point of attack, and "to continue rapidly forward to seize division and MEF [Marine Expeditionary Force] objectives."

 

No problem.

 

I completely agree, please keep up the good work, and if you have the time, perhaps some more stories?

 

Yes please share more!!!

 

Wow nice pics burned out t55 and a m109 palidan.OOOOOOOO MLRS I love those things!are you in artilary?sorry if I saying the obvious.

 

Actually, it is a M-109A2. The Paladin was a few years away yet. Yes, I was a artilleryman years ago.

 

Very cool. What was the newest tank that you have encountered on the battlefield?

 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. A neighbor kid on the street I grew up on was a member of a Bradley crew...he served in the Gulf War also. I remember him telling us of his brush with combat, and of his one Bradley seizing a hundred prisoners in a bunker complex...just his crew. He brought home some neat stuff to share.
It's important for those of us who weren't there to hear this stories, and to let you know just how much we appreciate your service and your sacrifice.