XBradTC

February 24, 1991. Major ground combat operations as a part of Desert Storm begin. The ground phase is sometimes described as Desert Saber.

My unit, A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, a part of the 1st Armored Division, was originally slated to cross into Iraq on February 25. But the initial successes by coalition forces to the east lead to our assault* being moved up to midday on the 24th.

My most vivid memory of that day is… getting a shot of gammaglobulin in my butt just as word came to mount up. The shot was painful enough by itself. Having to sit on the hard, uncomfortable seat of a Bradley for the next four days and nights did little to improve my mood.

*Assault is a rather grand term for the whole unit going for a long drive. I can’t really recall if we made any contact that day, or whether it wasn’t until the 25th.