Desert Shield And Desert Storm 3

LCpl Frank Costanza, 3d Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment, Saudi Arabia, November 1990

Second Lt Chris Simmler, Platoon Commander, 1st Plt, Co B, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, Second Force Service Support Group, adapts to desert living prior to the assault into Kuwait.

The 2d Bn, 24th Marines, a Reserve unit out of Milwaukee, initially was assigned the mission of protecting the I Marine Expeditionary Force commander’s primary bases in northern Saudi Arabia. Not taking any chances with the threat of Iraqi Scud missile attacks, these 2/24 leathernecks are ready with their Scud pit.

Second Marine Division Band members had little trouble finding sand to fill these bags for setting up defenses near al Kibrit, Saudi Arabia.

Two Marines from the Second Marine Division Band man a Mk 19 40 mm machine gun guarding an avenue of approach to the division’s command post near al Kibrit, Saudi Arabia.

An AH-1 Cobra at I MEF headquarters, Ras Safanya, Saudi Arabia, awaits another mission.

Fellow Marines admire a motorcycle courier’s bike.

Sgt (now SgtMaj) Ray Gries stands next to an M224 60 mm lightweight mortar, which provided long-range indirect fire support for ground troops. The M224 replaced the older (World War II era) M2 and M19 60 mm mortars, which had considerably less effective ranges.

During the assault into Kuwait, a task force bulldozer, D7, from “Bravo” Co, 8th Eng Spt Bn, 2d FSSG, recovers a damaged U.S. tank from a minefield.

Marines are prepared for gas attacks going into Kuwait.

Sgt Robert D. Casto, 60 mm mortar section, Co K, 1st Bn, 25th Marines, with burning oil wells in the background, sabotaged by retreating Iraqis.

MSgt Johnson, Co B, 8th Eng Spt Bn, 2d FSSG, oversees surrendering Iraqis as they enter Lane Red 1.

Battle damaged and abandoned vehicles lie along the “Highway of Death” (Highway 80) that runs between Kuwait City and Iraq. Retreating Iraqi military personnel were attacked by U.S. aircraft and ground forces, 26-27 Feb. 1991, resulting in numerous enemy deaths and destroyed vehicles.

First Lt Daniel L. Hooker, USMCR, Headquarters and Service Co, 3d Bn, 23d Marines, 2dMarDiv near Al Abdaliyah, Kuwait, during the ground attack into Kuwait, late February 1991. According to now retired Maj Hooker, 3/23 was the only Reserve infantry battalion to operate as an intact maneuver element.

Motor Transport Section, 2d Reconnaissance Bn, 2dMarDiv leathernecks gather for a group photo outside Kuwait City, two days before coalition forces began a ground assault 24 Feb. 1991 on Iraqi defenses. Front row, kneeling/sitting, from left: SSgt Luis Cisneros (holding flag), GySgt A. C. Corman (helmet in hands), Cpl Patrick Ryan, LCpl Sturgeon, Cpl Watts, Sgt Hanks (leg forward), Cpl Scozzari, LCpl Miller. Back row, standing, from left: Cpl C. B. Goodwin, Cpl Stovall, LCpl Delfred Yazzie, LCpl William Matos, Cpl Lawrence, PFC Follett, LCpl Domenick (lighting cigarette), LCpl Auldridge, Cpl Hennis and 2dLt Michael Brown.

Back row, from left: Sgt Oakley, Sgt Blair, SSgt Richard Wojewnik, Weapons Co, 2/24, and an unidentified lance corporal (kneeling) gather on the Kuwait-Saudi Arabia border after the ground war ends.

Leathernecks of 1st Plt and Heavy Equipment Plt, Co B, 8th Eng Spt Bn, 2d FSSG in al Kibrit, Saudi Arabia. According to Marine veteran Chris Simmler, who submitted this photo, the Marine atop the bunker is SSgt Daniel A. Kur, a breach team leader in 1st Plt, who won the Silver Star during the assault for picking up mines with his bare hands and removing them from the lane in order to keep the 6th Marines moving.

LtGen Walter E. Boomer, Commanding General, I MEF, and LCpl Mark Wroblewski, “Fox” Co, 2d Bn, 24th Marines, 4thMarDiv.

After the cease-fire, leathernecks of Wpns Co, 2/24 enjoy a movie on 4 March 1991.

LCpl Delfred Yazzie, 2d Recon Bn Motor T, with weapons found in Iraqi vehicles May 1991.