Shortly after 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Jan. 16, 1991—35 years ago today—the United States and allied forces conducted an air assault in the Persian Gulf region, hitting targets in Baghdad and Kuwait early in the morning of Jan. 17, Iraq time. Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm.
Five months earlier, the United States and partner nations began a buildup of arms and forces in Saudi Arabia after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein refused to withdraw his forces. The Exchange was there from the beginning.
Before Desert Shield began, the Exchange’s Southwest Asia operations consisted of a main store, two smaller stores and a mobile exchange, all in Saudi Arabia. Shortly after Desert Shield started, a distribution center was quickly built, practically from scratch, in Saudi Arabia to support Exchange operations in the Middle East.
By the time Desert Storm started, the Exchange had 17 direct-operated retail stores; 152 troop-run facilities; more than two dozen food locations; and 11 barbershops in the region. Nearly 350 associates volunteered to deploy to serve those who served during the operations.
Below are some photos from the Exchange’s support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm from the Exchange History album on Flickr:
Sources: Exchange Post archives; Exchange History on Flicker; The Persian Gulf War: An Air Staff Chronology of Desert Shield/Desert Storm by Steven B. Michoel, Captain, USAF
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