Why the California Desert Didn't Prepare the Army for the Middle East in the Gulf War

Don spent 10 years as an Apache Helicopter Pilot for the U.S. Army. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with valor for actions in Afghanistan.

He is the creator of the Matt Drake thriller series, which includes Hostile Intent, The Outside Man, and Without Sanction. He is also the author of the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan Jr. novels Zero Hour, Target Acquired, and Flash Point.

The newest addition to the Matt Drake series, Forgotten War, is out now.

CW5 Alan Mack is a Master Aviator who has logged more than 6,700 hours of flight; over 3,200 of those hours were flown with night vision goggles. For his actions in Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq he was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Star Medals, 10 Air Medals; one with Valor device, Combat Action Badge, and the Army Broken Wing award

Alan is the author of the book Razor 03: A Night Stalker’s Wars. The book chronicles Alan’s experiences in Army Aviation and as a team lead in the opening months of the war in Afghanistan.

#shorts

[thekeytoairpower]

I remember talking to a Warrant back in the day who was telling me about how more than once in DS helicopters clipped dunes because they were trying to hover and slowly slipped sideways into them.

[blackcountryme]

The sand of southern Iraq was like talcum powder according to my friends who really hated it.

[ProjecthuntanFish]

2nd Marine Division Desert Storm. Rolled into Kuwait in my M60a1 main battle tank and never saw a dune anywhere. Just flat sandy desert.

[williammartin]

My father in ww2 in Africa chasing Romel he did a low altitude bombing run in a b25 and bounced the plain off a sand dune and filled up the bomb bay with sand. He got lucky.

[slappy]

The part of the desert we were in was covered with razor sharp rocks.

[jayeallen]

"Desert training" at the National Training Center is more about the climate and dealing with the sand than the actual terrain.

[danbrown]

I remember training in fort Irwin for a month in 93. M1A1 full of sand.

[yellowboxster]

Your are certainly correct. Not all deserts are equal. Surveillance sensors suffer as well especially radar.

[k.m]

I remember my dad working in the military hospital in Riyadh. We had to wear masks and hide in shelters or the bathroom.

[davidavorpflanz]

Out of Log-Base Charlie on Tap Line Road, Saudi Arabia; The 229th Medical Detachment (Air Ambulance), deployed from Fort Drum, NY (10TH MountIn Infantry Division's "MOUNTAIN DUSTOFF") unit with 6 UH-1/V helicopters lost one a week before the Ground War Started, during an NVG Training Flight, front skids hit a 14' high dug out berm for Hummv Stinger defense vehicles, flipped over, destroyed the aircraft, and Chief Warrant Officer-3 Rick Lee was killed. Co-pilot crippled for life, other 3 on board survived with mega bumps and bruises.

Yup, dangerous!

My 2nd war in Iraq, we had better NVG'S.

[flynnzero]

As a 19D during the gulf war on the left flank, I can attest at night the desert was very deceiving. Had to be sharp on maneuver.

[markstowe]

Listening to The Terminal List again! In a holding pattern till the next book comes out in April! You are number 1 on my list of famous people I would love to meet!

[TheDylls]

I think it was Sun Tzu that said something like "Always fight the enemy on their home turf which is completely unfamiliar to you."

[userbx]

my dad served in desert storm…..did NOT enjoy going to the beach after that lol

[them]

The fact of the matter is, they owned the night. With the exception of some unscouted dune areas.

[christopherpearson]

I also realized that when I first went there. Those 1st desert camo uniforms blended perfectly with the Ameican desert, but not Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. You stuck out.

[rogerpenske]

Next time, train at the Indiana dunes/Michigan dunes. It is the real home of the infancy of powered flight. The Indiana dunes are where Octave Chanute experimented with various wing designs with gliders; which intern gave the Wright brothers the wing designed used in the Wright flyer

[ShaareiZoharDaas]

I want to know how much glass was created in the turbines and if there were auto rotations.

[newjsdavid]

crazy. i can imagine low light conditions would be hard to keep a good reference with the ground on nvgs

[warpdriveby]

I think this is a bit of presentism being corrected rather than a larger misunderstanding of Desert Shield/Storm. The "we own the night" was in comparison to previous wars, and the overmatch capabilities between coalition forces and the Iraqi forces. Perhaps those not born by 1991 think night optics were always available but that's pretty naive, right? I'm sure he is giving a valuable perspective, but I don't think a mistake in environment comparison and night vision capabilities are truly connected here.