Schwarzkopf: "Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines of the United States Central Command. This morning at 0300 ...

... we launched Operation Desert Storm, an offensive campaign that will enforce United Nations Resolutions that Iraq must cease its rape and pillage of its weaker neighbor and withdraw its forces from Kuwait. The President, the Congress, the American people, and indeed the world, stand united in their support of your actions. You are a member of the most powerful force our country in coalition with our allies has ever assembled in a single theatre to face such an aggressor. You have trained hard for this battle and you are ready. During my visits with you, I have seen in your eyes a fire of determination to get this job done, and done quickly, so that we may return to the shores of our great nation. My confidence is you is total. Our cause is just. Now, you must be the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm. May God be with you, our loved ones at home, and our country."

"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

0530 hrs SATO
Hey chief time to roll. Hey CHIEF get up man it's almost time to get out of here.

Yea ok, I'm up.
Spence tell the guys section meeting in 15 mikes right here.

Will do chief.

I as hurried to put up my sleeping bag and other contents into my water proof bag, I wondered what the day would bring.


0545 hrs. SATO
Marshall: Where's Kelly.

Spence: On duty in the TOC.
Marshall: Ok I'll talk to him in a few. Okay guys here the plan. Keep your arms and legs in the ride. Oopps wrong speech. (everyone lets out a little laugh) No no really,
as we go through the breech right side passenger your job is to guard against the enemy from the front center of the truck to as far on the right side as you can get, BE CAREFUL. Center passenger, center of the truck thru the drivers window. DO NOT SHOOT THE DRIVER by accident. Keep your weapons out of the side windows. If need be the driver can shoot out the front. Be very very cafeful. We don't want anyone to get hurt execpt Iraqi's. Got it.

Everyone else: Got it.

Marshall: Ok lets pull some PM on these trucks now. Everyone help out. Make sure the 15k's are on the hook good and the carter pin is in, and bent. One last thing ladies, IT'S SHOWTIME.

Everyone else. Yea let's do it.

At 0630 hrs we began our move into history, forever.