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RI Desert Storm Veterans planning a 35th Desert Storm reunion – John A. Cianci
by John A. Cianci, veterans writer
February 28, 2025 Cease-Fire Ended of Operation Desert Storm: RI Desert Storm Veterans Planning a 35th Desert Storm Reunion
Yesterday marked the end of the 100-hour ground offensive 34th anniversary. The ground assault started on Feb. 24, 1991.
That operation to oust the Iraqis is also known as the Gulf War. Operation Desert Shield/Storm, came about after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein refused to withdraw his forces from Kuwait after Iraqi forces invaded and annexed Kuwait 5 months ago.
The U.S led 35 nation collation pummeled the Iraqi forces, forcing Iraqi leader, Sadaam Hussain, to sign a ceasefire on Feb. 28, 1991.
“Once again, little or no recognition by our government, VA administration, and news outlet for Veterans who served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm on the 34th Anniversary of the end of war,” said John Cianci, who served with the 119th Military Police Company during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Cianci Google-searched throughout the day, only to find a few articles on the 34th anniversary of the signing of the seize fire ending the war.
Nearly 700,000 men and women served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s, which included hundreds of Rhode Islanders.
The Rhode Island National Guard deployed four units for Operation Desert Shield/Storm: 143rd Airlift Wing, out of Quonset Point, 118th Military Police Battalion, and 119th Military Police Company out of Warwick RI, and 115th Military Police out of Pawtucket, RI.
Other Rhode Island units activated and deployed: 443d Civil Affairs Company, 6th Transport Company, United States Marine Company Reserve, United States Navy Reserve, S. B. Roberts FFG-58.
“Too many times we are told Desert Storm was a “real war” because it was so short,” said Cianci. His reply: “…tell it to the 382 moms, dads, children of the 384 casualties of Operation Desert Shield/Storm”.
None of the Rhode Island units suffered any casualties. However, an Alabama unit under the command and control of the 118th Military Police Battalion had 2 killed in action casualties.
Unique to Operation Desert Shield/Storm was the pattern of the uniforms issued for Operation Desert Shield/Storm, aka, “chocolate chip uniform”.
Rhode Island Desert Storm Veterans Plan a 35th Desert Storm Reunion on January 17, 2026.
January 17, 2026 will mark the anniversary of the start of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Operation Desert Shield was a military operation that began in August 1990 in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. It was the first phase of the Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
On Wednesday night, a dozen Operation Desert Shield/Storm Veterans kicked off the planning for the 35th Desert Storm Anniversary. All Desert Storm veterans are invited.
For more information, go to the website created for details and information on the January 17, 2025 reunion. https://35desertstorm.org
Rhode Island
Hundredths of other Rhode Islanders were also deployed with Marine Reserve, Army Reserve, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. These days, Ramon Sims, a retired Atlanta Gulf War soldier, is far removed from combat, enjoying time with his grandchildren and volunteering at his church, but his memories of Operation Desert Storm remain, 34 years later.
The 65-year-old Army Veteran recalled how on the early morning of January 17, 1991, warplanes, attack helicopters, and missiles belonging to U.S. and allied troops struck a variety of military and government targets in Iraq, commencing a campaign—code-named Operation Desert Storm—that sought to force Iraq to end its occupation of Kuwait.
“My unit was among the hundreds of thousands of Coalition forces led by U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf,” Sims said. “He was the best general I ever served under. His troops nicknamed him Stormin’ Norman and he captured the public’s imagination with his John Wayne swagger and frank talk about the war’s progress.”
Sims noted that the ground offensive lasted a mere 100 hours from the start of the assault on Feb. 24, 1991, until a cease-fire ended the fighting on Feb. 28, 1991. “As I look back on my 25 years in the Army, Desert Storm was a pivotal moment in military history where U.S. troops were in a position to accomplish what they had trained for,” he added. “I salute all the brave American men and women who courageously answered the call and played a significant role in helping the Coalition of 35 nations achieved its primary objective of liberating Kuwait.”
We honor the service of all our Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veterans who demonstrated America’s resolve to defend freedom and deter aggression throughout the world.