tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7595596.post8826055435016257220..comments2019-08-08T14:17:07.275-05:00Comments on Musings of Řehoř: Desert Storm - HomecomingElmer Boutinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09141465680870258040noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7595596.post-2425200122916058412011-06-13T06:02:04.890-05:002011-06-13T06:02:04.890-05:00Ha, Spiff, you need to go back to the beginning. :...Ha, Spiff, you need to go back to the beginning. :-)Elmer Boutinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09141465680870258040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7595596.post-2228675955892093782011-06-12T19:28:31.945-05:002011-06-12T19:28:31.945-05:00Are we on alert yet?Are we on alert yet?Spiffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18180042178042689326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7595596.post-84373453633616417402011-05-20T11:53:38.295-05:002011-05-20T11:53:38.295-05:00Thanks for leaving your memory of that day, John.
...Thanks for leaving your memory of that day, John.<br /><br />Yes, getting into a real bed was a great feeling.Elmer Boutinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09141465680870258040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7595596.post-79538702922138353392011-05-20T09:29:21.411-05:002011-05-20T09:29:21.411-05:00We first went to the isolation area in Riyadh for ...We first went to the isolation area in Riyadh for what seemed like forever before getting on the Kuwaiti Airlines 747. From there, we went to Dharan, and sat on the tarmac like forever. The next leg took us to NAS Sigonella on Sicily (btw, at neither place were we allowed to deplane. At both places, they opened the emergency exits so there would be some cross ventilation.). Finally, to Ramstein, where we went through stringent customs and an Iraqi 122mm shell casing was seized from the person who brought it. No ceremnoy, just "move along, move along."Finally, we got on the same Domberger buses that took us to the field and brought us back to Augsburg, arriving at about 230am. <br /><br />Our families were there (so incredibly cool) and the unit. We turned in sensitive items and were told what a great contribution we had made to the war effort. LTC Bowers, our Bn CO, who wasn't allowed to join us in the sandbox, then said something to the effect of "I can't give a five day pass, oh wait, today is Wednesday; well, I guess your duty day is done; Return for duty Monday morning." The stay behinds were less understanding, giving us comments like "Don't think you're special because you went." we didn't think we were special; we just wanted to sleep in our own beds. I still have my yellow ribbon.John Emerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7595596.post-88065037452322532122011-05-18T15:08:13.676-05:002011-05-18T15:08:13.676-05:00Hey Tim - Thanks for stopping by and sharing your ...Hey Tim - Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience.<br /><br />The flight to New York was well planned, so the bars and restaurants were closed. Some of the local pizza places did have some complimentary pies available, though, as I recall. Other than that, there may have been some sodas there. It sounds like you had a much better time in Cincinnati. :-)<br /><br />Wasn't that welcome at Biggs great, though. The people of El Paso really went all out to welcome us back. From what I understand there were hundreds or thousands there for each flight coming in no matter what time of the day. Truly a great welcome home.Elmer Boutinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09141465680870258040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7595596.post-59996082948246086212011-05-18T14:10:18.905-05:002011-05-18T14:10:18.905-05:00Elmer ... OMIGOD ... The memories are just FLOODIN...Elmer ... OMIGOD ... The memories are just FLOODING me right now!! We convoyed from the desert wastes into Al Jubail, & spent almost a week just getting our vehicles & equipment clean enough to pass inspection. We ended up taking all of the HUMVEE's & trailers to a local high-pressure car wash, & made the local owner a mint in the process!! After the vehicles were "done", we were quartered in "Camp Victory", re-named from "Camp Cactus" there in Al Jubail!! It was just an incredible feeling to be in an actual barracks, sleeping on an actual bed, eating in a mess hall ... & visiting the "camel burger" stand every day ... sometimes several times a day!! During that time, we were also issued new desert camo uniforms, & REAL DESERT BOOTS (I had ended up buying a pair from The CAV STORE!!), so we would look nice on our return home!! We finally got the word, & we were stuffed on arab buses, & taken to Daharan air base, where we were locked in a hangar, & underwent the customs microscope inspection of our gear!!<br />After what seemed like forever, we finally boarded a Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-1011, & the roar of cheering as we left the ground was just as I remembered reading about in books about Vietnam!! The WONDERFUL flight attendants kept us well supplied with food & drink, & just the sight of these american women after so many months in the boondocks was an inspiration!! They made out like bandits, as they traded kisses for pieces of uniform attire, patches, & badges!! By the time we got to Frankfurt, you would have sworn that THEY were the ones in the Army!! We stopped in Frankfurt only long enough to refuel, & we were supposed to fly directly into El Paso from there, but we ended up landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, because of ENGINE PROBLEMS!!! We were released into the terminal, & told to listen for an announcement of our flight!! As we we entered the lounge, everybody passing by stopped in their tracks, & began to clap & cheer, & I looked around to see who was the celebrity, until I realized they were applauding US!! Of course, the majority of us headed directly for the airport bars, despite instructions to the contrary!! I finished my first REAL beer in over 9 months, & was reaching for my wallet, when the bartender placed another in front of me, & pointed to a group of men sitting to one side, & told me to put away my wallet!! I went over to thank them, & spent quite a few cold ones just sitting there talking with them!!<br />Four hours later, they called our flight, & ONE LARGE bunch of very wobbly soldiers made their way back to the gate!! Somehow, everybody got back aboard, & 2 hours later, & MANY cups of coffee ( The flight crew had probably anticipated our airport antics, & had more than triple the normal amount of coffee on board!!), we were landing at Biggs Army Airfield at 0300 HRS!! I could not believe that at such an early hour of the morning, that there were literally THOUSANDS of people to welcome us back to El Paso!! Once again, even though we were told to go immediately to the terminal for the formation, I succeeded in "bucking the system" ... at the bottom of the ramp, I got out of line, got down on all fours ... & KISSED THE GROUND!!! I was really laughing at that point, because the entire huge crowd started cheering even louder when I performed my act of homage!!!Timothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14548139221921471686noreply@blogger.com