Posted on 08/02/2006 5:03:05 PM PDT by gleeaikin
It was a warm day, August 2nd in 1990 when I turned on the news and heard the stomach clutching news that Iraq was invading Kuwait. My heart beat accelerated as I realized that my son's Bravo Co. of the 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg was "on mission" for the month of August. This meant that his company would be the first to go if the US offered military assistance for the crisis. All day and evening my husband, a Korean combat veteran, and I seesawed between listening to the news and trying to reach our son's barracks phone. (Remember, this was before cell phones.) Two days and dozens of calls later there was finally no busy signal, but no one answered either. They were gone--without even a goodby, take care, and we love you.
By this time it was clear that Saudi Arabia wanted our help to secure their northern border from a possible Iraq invasion. It was also clear that President Bush was going to provide it. Two thousand of our troops would be in Saudi Arabia in just a few days. Our son later told us they flew to Spain and then to SA and were on base somewhere between Aug. 7 and 9. (I think it was King Khalid Military City.) At any rate when we finally established communication weeks later, he said it was huge, and had air conditioning and recreation facilities. Ultimately, not bad, but boring (thank goodness) garrison duty waiting for the action. I once asked him what kind of guys were in the 82nd. He said about 1/3 crazies, 1/3 "getting their ticket punched" for future command promotion, and 1/3 people looking for adventure (his category).
We talked about casualties later, and he said there were probably fewer there, including the fighting, because the biggest killer of "Joe" is alcohol and drunk driving. Since liquor was illegal in SA, no drunken driving for the 100,000 troops that were eventually there. Of course, some found creative uses for raisins, prunes and potatoes, but they weren't driving anywhere.
Meanwhile, I was at home biting my nails and praying that he would not be one of 2,000 US troops facing 100,000 Republican Guard storming across the Saudi border. Gradually, it seemed clear that Iraq was happy with looting Kuwait, US troop numbers were building up and my nails began to grow again.
Back home contention was already arrising. One broadcast featured a mother echoing her son's complaint at being sent over there. He was also with the 82nd. My blood was simmering as I thought of the miserable treatment our Vietnam veterans had received. I contacted a well-known local news commentator from the same TV station. I informed her our opinion was very different from the monther they had interviewed. They interviewed us, and we supported the absolute necessity of stopping such blatant aggression by a despicable excuse for a human--Saddam Hussein. We also arranged that if our son sent photos they would develop 3 sets, give us two and keep one for broadcast use.
We finally received a short long distance phone call when he and his tent mates visited a Saudi family for dinner. His best friend had been sending things he wanted, including film. He enthusiastically entered into the media project I had set up. By December we had received 3 or 4 sets of negatives and given several more interviews. An American corporation also helped the troops make short personal videotapes which we received and shared.
As it became clear our Generals had no interest in the massive attack/sacrifice kind of fighting that was so deadly in Vietnam, we began to relax. Our Air Force was bombing Iraq's troops savagely and it was clear our ground troops would not move until their work was done. In the meantime our son was starting to fret that they were still using ancient Sheridan Tanks, instead of the shiny new ones they had been promised in time for land attack day. Finally, the new Sheridans arrived, but no camoflage paint. We made a mad dash to Home Depot to buy several quarts of paint in beige, brown and gray to mail to him ASAP. In addition to film, paint, and other necesssities, neighbors had contacted us and wanted to send Christmas cookies, which I'm sure were appreciated.
At last, for the new year (1991) Desert Shield became Desert Storm, and Saddam Hussein got the Christmas Gift he so richly deserved. At home, high anxiety again until it became clear that Iraq soldiers were surrendering in droves or running like rabbits. In his last batch of film, there was a picture of him proud and serious in his complete combat gear next to his very serious new tank. Another photo showed him very grim and cold beside a stack of captured weapons. The transformation in one week was startling. I wonder how many marriages and lives will be destroyed by the effect on our troops of the current fighting.
After that it was mopping up and finally home at last in April. Now he is in Afghanistan and I am so thankful they did not send him to Iraq. At least families today have cell phones and email which helps.
I often wonder where we would be today if we had continued Desert Storm another 24 or 48 hours.
Slant drilling. Same thing Cuba is doing to Florida's oil reservoirs.
"We may never know the full truth, but it is entirely possible that both Carter elements and Reagan/Bush elements signaled (not necessarily encouraged) that we would stay out of any action Saddam took against Iran. I think by Sept. 1980 it was pretty clear that Reagan would be elected,"
I don't believe that by September 1980 it was clear that Reagan would win. I remember that election well, and we were on pin-and-needles up until the Reagan-carter debates. The polls up to the debates showed a very close horserace, and a possible photo finish. I think the Gipper pulled ahead as a result of his stellar debate performance and his famous line to the American people about whether they were better off now than they were four years ago. That line was a killer, and it reduced carter further in the minds of many voters.
From Stolenthunder.com
"In 1980, Carter ran for re-election against Ronald Reagan. In mid-August, Reagan led 39-38, a very close race (bet you didn't remember it was still close in August). After the debates, reagan opened a 47-39 lead, but Carter closed fast and in the last Gallup poll, Carter led Reagan 47-44. Reagan won with 50.8% (to 44.0%) of the PV, and Gallup was embarassed for the wrong pick. Gallup also, was off by an aggregate 9.8 points, their worst call since 1936."
I believe the whole issue of the October "Surprise" was just so much Democrat obfuscation. That so called "surprise" was investigated by a Congressional panel after the Reagan victory and found to be baseless. The thorough Congressional investigation dashes any pretense that the Reagan people were contacting the Iranians, and the same could be said about Reagan contacts with the Iraqis. If there had been a shred of evidence that the Reagan people had, during the 1980 presidential campaign, communicated with the Iraqis, it would have come out in the investigation.
Good news, my son has just returned from Afghanistan. Haven't seen him yet but look forward to some interesting and informative discussions. May have more to post soon.
And Saddam would have the nuclear bomb.
That indeed is wonderful news. Please profer a thank you hug from this grateful citizen when you finally get your arms around him!
Fantastic news. He's a victorious warrior and a hero.
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