Mon 3 Dec 1990:
As of today we have been in country for 117 days. And nothing has happened until now. Today, Iraq fired some scud missiles in the direction of Syria and Israel. All of them fell inside of Iraq which makes us think that Saddam is testing them to make sure they are operational so that when it comes time to use them, he will use them. He has of course threatened chemical warheads. Now, let me tell you about this missile firing and the reaction of the people (Military) here at Dhahran.
We are working and I’m not sure what sector I was in, but we got the report that the missiles had been fired. Everyone, other than us, that heard the initial report of the missiles being fire, and not prepared chemically, thought they were fired at us. But before I go into this let me give you the attitude that had developed over the months since August. The order of the day was business as usual, as if we were at home at Langley AFB. Everyone had gotten set into a routine and seemed to forget that we were in a potential combat zone and stopped expecting anything to happen. So as the weeks went by and into one month then two, all of their protective gear got pushed farther and farther back, they stopped carting it and finally no one had any idea where it was. There are exceptions, the Combat oriented Security Police. We have always carried our gear no matter what. Even stateside we had it so it wasn’t anything different here. Meanwhile, after the missiles were fired, everyone living in tent city – not affiliated with our particular career field and not having their gear, panicked and began running for shelter. Behind tent city there was a fence, and that fence had one exit, a single person gate. There was also an exit to the front, which by the way was the way that everyone entered and exited tent city, but everyone, instead of running to the main entrance, ran to where there was that small opening in the fence. The results were a commencement of trying to tear down the fence, but to no avail. Finally, after the security police arrived to tell everyone that the missiles were not aimed at us, order was restored. When this news got to Boomer he ordered, from this day forward, that everyone will have all their gear, with them, at all times. It was really funny.
Wed 5 Dec 1990:
Today we received another official announcement; the 1st TFW will be here for 6 months unless war starts, and if that happens we will be here until the end of the war. It turned out to be March. The Security Police mentality changed from that point. We were told from the beginning that the attacks we would most likely be subjected to is, from terrorist, or Special Forces type so, we figured, that, if we were going to be in a fire fight, then we would go down in a blaze of glory. What is ironic is that “Bon Jovi” came out with a song that became one of the most requested songs on AFRN, “Shot Down in a Blaze of Glory.” We knew that if war were to start we would fight to the last man, the last bullet, our last breath and we would make the enemy pay dearly for his actions. Death.
Christmas time was coming and the room Ray and I were in bunked most of the guys we worked with and they had it all decked out with a small Christmas tree and lights. Trying to bring a little bit of home to our lives was with good intention but made us miss it even more. And then;
Sat 15 Dec 1990:
Today everyone in our room was told we were vacating and being dispersed among the other rooms. Ray and I were told that we were moving to the room where BDOC is bedded down. We were not sure why and with a little reluctance, we did.
Fri 21 Dec 1990:
1000 hours the air raid siren blasted indicating that we had possible incoming. Those who were asleep were awakened and everyone donned all their gear and headed down to take shelter. At around 1030 it was terminated and called a false alarm.
Sun 23 Dec 1990:
Jingle bells jingle bells, jingle all the, Ho-Ho-Ho, Merry Christmas and with that we received a very special gift, we are back in 12’s, this time from 8pm to 8am.
Wed 26 Dec 1990:
Andy, my son’s, birthday and it was announced by the air raid siren indicating that Saddam tested another Scud. Once again we put on all of our gear and waited. There was now no doubt about it, we were for sure going to WAR!
Mon 31 Dec 1990:
Today we strengthened our defenses by adding Delta 1-5 plus Charlie Whiskey-1, all inside the off base POL area. Each Delta is an LP/OP. The commander wanted some early warning as to possible penetration attempts. The strategy sounds good.
All this has to do with us just wanting to go home. It is the frustration that drives this next thought. Here is what we think, and has been proven, to be the justification for more troops. You have to add more post than can be filled with current man power, thus, additional personal needed. And Col Pack did just that and got what he needed. Every time he wanted more men he added more post. Example; when no more troops were coming in he decided he wanted airport security, it didn’t happen, then when the President came for thanksgiving he thought he could use Hickam AFB, but Prince Turkey said no. Then he had to put us into 8 hour shifts. But Col. Pack wasn’t through yet. He thought and thought and then it came to him, the Defended Locale plan. Vaa-la, more post equals more men equal’s 12 hour shifts. But with the 15 Jan deadline I guess it makes since. Here is another anti-terrorist measure; CM-3 is now Special Post 3 & 4, both doing random vehicle searches at different locations every two hours.
Thur. 10 Jan 1991: (6 days to War)
The defended locale has been put into effect, and 6 Iraq helicopters defected, Saddam not vacating Kuwait.
Fri 11 Jan 1991: (5 Days and counting)
Threat-Con Charlie implemented which puts in a two flight concept. That means 116 posts during the day and 116 for night. Additional bunkers that had previously been built are now being manned and the patrols are concentrating now on vulnerabilities. We are confident that we will deter and defend.
Sat 12 Jan 1991: (4 days and counting)
It started raining today at about 21:00. I made also made my last phone call for a while. ATT will cut the service on the 14th. Congress also approved use of force after the 15th. It is 03:46 and we are three days away from War. Everyone here is excited and apprehensive at the same time.
Mon 14 Jan 1991:
War starts tomorrow. Ready or not here it comes. On this day Dhahran went from a hazardous duty zone to a combat zone.
THE DEFENDER 