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FORT RILEY, Kansas – U.S. Army veterans of the 1st Infantry Division gathered at Victory Park to participate in the unveiling of the Operation Desert Storm Monument on Fort Riley, Kansas, Apr. 25, 2024.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John V. Meyer III, commander of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Command Sgt. Maj. Derek Noyes, command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, and Linda Saunders, widow of Lt. Gen. Thomas Rhame, commander of the 1st Inf. Div. during Desert Storm, laid a wreath alongside the monument to commemorate the Soldiers who served during the operation.
“In response to the invasion of Kuwait, the 1st Inf. Div., led by Maj. Gen. Rhame, and 12,000 Soldiers deployed to Southwest Asia to continue to defend the values of our country,” said Meyer. “Victory, in 100 hours. Over 500 tanks destroyed, over 11,000 Iraqi prisoners of war. From hell to victory our division accomplished the mission of defending those values that set us apart in the world.”
In August 1990, military forces loyal to Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, leading to U.S. military involvement in the Persian Gulf. The 1st Inf. Div. played a crucial role in Desert Storm, a key operation which enabled U.S. and allied coalition forces to achieve military superiority in the region.
The monument depicts the battle plans derived and executed by Soldiers of the 1st Inf. Div. who operated alongside a coalition of partner forces during a two-phase operation designed to wear down and destroy opposing military forces. The events of the operation took place between Feb. 17, 1991 and Feb. 24, 1991.
“Twenty-seven members of the 1st Inf. Div. did not come home,” said Meyer. “We remember the sacrifice they made defending those values. No mission is too difficult, no sacrifice is too great, but we do remember those who have fallen.”
The legacy of the 1st Inf. Div. extends beyond Desert Storm. From World War I to future combat engagements, the actions of Soldiers serving in the Big Red One are forever woven in the fabric of the United States Military.
| Date Taken: | 05.14.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2024 09:34 |
| Story ID: | 471275 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MG Meyer Unveils Desert Storm Memorial Alongside Commanders Widow, by SGT Charles Leitner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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