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DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM

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Office of the Army Surgeon General, Falls Church, VA

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• Port of Damman, S.A., January, 1991; Military Equipment and personnel are preparing for war with Iraq.
• Soldiers temporarily live in a large warehouse on the dock and prepare for deployment.  Major Art Saenz cuts Major D. C. Cook's hair to a "field expedient" cut.  LT Moore and LTC Adamson in the foreground.
• TAA Roosevelt as 1st seen on 11 January 91.  Forward party has made burm and put up a few items of necessity (TOC antenna).
• Living tents are erected.  The tent pegs are weighted with sand bags to keep them from pulling out during rain and wind storms.  Tent lines are used for laundry.  (Jan 1991)
• The "main gate" through the burm is guarded 24 hours a day by soldiers with M-16's.  A code password is necessary to get in.   (Jan 1991)
• After 4 days of rain, a crew erects an "entertainment recreation center" for the camp. Soldiers are bored.   (Jan 1991)
• The T.O.C. (Tactical Operations Center) with "MILVANS" in the background.  The milvans contain the hospital and supplies.  (Jan 1991)
• SSG Mark Blackstone assists LT Vicki Oswood to put the "pot belied" stove pipe through the tent roof.   (Jan 1991)
• Nurses of the 31st CSH entertain themselves by doing needlepoint as they await deployment for war in the desert.  LT Oswood (R) and CPT Merri Arndtwood (L).  (Jan 1991)
• The "Desert Life Style."  We do laundry by hand but feel lucky to have electric lights and Arab stove to heat water.   (Jan 1991)
• TAA Roosevelt, the showers.  (Jan 1991)
• Members of "Lady Warriors" hang up their laundry on tent ropes.  Portable toilets and "milvans" in background.  (Jan 1991)
• TAA Roosevelt, showers, water "blivets" and an unfinished bunker.   (Jan 1991)
• TAA Roosevelt, portable toilets (milvans in background).   (Jan 1991)
• Inside a portable toilet after a dust storm.  Water bottles were filled with sand for weights to keep doors closed.   (Jan 1991)
• 31st CSH ambulance and medic (camouflaged with sand/mud dried on ambulance). (Jan 1991)
• Putting up Temper Tents at TAA Roosevelt.  (Jan 1991)
• Completed Temper Tents at TAA Roosevelt.  (Jan 1991)
• Party day to welcome 115th MASH and 34th CSH.  "Tug of War," women against men.  Rear:  SPC Norhof, SFC Mills, CPT Dillon, MAJ McCormack, SFC McKendrick, ?, ?, LT Frederick-Grisset.  (1 Feb 1991)
• Party Day:  Party hats are being made from M.R.E. bags.  Lt to Rt: ?, ?, CPT Scheider, SFC Marchand. (1 Feb 1991)
• Erecting the "real hospital" at Medical Center East.  (Feb 1991)
• The "liner" is attached to the frame.  (Feb 1991)
• The view of Medical Center East from the motor pool.  (Feb 1991)
• "Lake Superior", the hospital's fresh water supply.  (Feb 1991)
• The power network outside OR ("International Standard Organization Shelter or ISO's")  (Feb 1991)
• A completed Temper Tent ready for equipment.  (Feb 1991)
• LT Liz Kassner puts together a patient field bed.  (Feb 1991)
• MAJ Sybille Smith puts a table together that converts a chest for carrying supplies into a bedside table.  (Feb 1991)
• Getting ICU ready for business.  (Feb 1991)
• Emergency medical treatment center has 10 trauma stations.  (Feb 1991)
• The real "crash cart" with built-in drawers.  (Feb 1991)
• Members of ICU #4 ready the unit.  (Feb 1991)
• Nurses' station in ICU #1.  (Feb 1991)
• Nurses' station in ICU #1.  (Feb 1991)
• Nurses' station in ICU #1.  (Feb 1991)
• A typical supply room.  (Feb 1991)
• Nurses' station #2.  (Feb 1991)
• Nurses' station #2.  (Feb 1991)
• Nurses' station #3.  (Feb 1991)
• ICU #3:  Head nurse, MAJ Rang, and staff nurse, CPT Jennifer Johnson.  (Feb 1991)
• A dust storm outside the EMT.  A G.P. Large (General Purpose) with sides rolled up provides shelter for triage.  (Feb 1991)
• The inner hospital area had portable toilets for the patient's use only.  Imagine patients on crutches using these.  (Feb 1991)
• Minimal care unit in a sandstorm.  (Feb 1991)
• A passing windstorm has blown all the doors off of the portable toilets.  (Feb 1991)
• The laundry and shower area of Medical Center East.  (Feb 1991)
• A "hand-washing" stand and the "water buffalo" behind the living area of Medical Center East.  (Feb 1991)
• LT Nelson receives packages from home with valuable supplies.  (Feb 1991)
• The body builders of 31st display their muscles.  (Mar 1991)
• Camp is "struck" and it is time to move again.  (Mar 1991)
• CPT Laura Noel poses in front of the T.O.C.  (Mar 1991)
• LT Oswood, LT Moore, and MAJ Gilcrest prepare for a dusty ride in a ST truck (short ton truck).  (Mar 1991)
• Lined up to convoy.  (Mar 1991)
• Bedoin families bring their children out to the convoy to beg for M.R.E.'s.  (Mar 1991)
• Convoying through Hafaral Batin, Saudi Arabia.  (Mar 1991)
• Camels graze right at the roadside.  (Mar 1991)
• Saudi highway patrol on "Tapline Road."  (Mar 1991)
• "Tapline Road" near junction with General Strong Boulevard.  (Mar 1991)
• Tent sign indicating name of group and resident.  (Mar 1991)
• 31st CSH camp at "Rear Area Brigade."  (Apr 1991)
• Lt. Dawn Nelson and CPT laura Noel catch some sun.  (Apr 1991)
• Rear Brigade "secure" area off "Tapline Road."  (Apr 1991)
• 31st CSH memory book staff: Lt to Rt, CPT Archila, CPT Bowie, CPT Gilcreast, PFC Bailey.  Rear, CPT Arndtwood, MAJ Lee, SFC Harrison, PFC Lister, MAJ Aponte.  (April 1991)
• MAJ Ruth Lee makes a vegetable salad for the Easter Bab-B-Q.  (Apr 1991)
• Flags fly over 345th CSH.  (Apr 1991)
• Vehicles get washed free of desert sand for shipment home.
• Soldier poses in front of Soviet made Iraqi APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) at IAD (Iraqi Armored Division) FWD Museum.  (Apr 1991)
• Russian made Iraqi tank at IAD FWD Museum.  (Apr 1991)
• Iraqi APC in IAD FWD Museum.  (Apr 1991)
• Officers of 31st CSH waiting for the "ride home."  (Apr 1991)
• CPT Ron Kee, 2LT Dawn Nelson, 1LT Vickie Oswood, MAJ Smith, LTC Jordan, CPT Noel, and CPT Zavacki waiting to go home.  (Apr 1991)
• Members of 12th Evac. Hospital join 31st CSH to go home.  (Apr 1991)
• Duffel bags are unpacked to search for sand and explosives.
• MAJ Deborah Houck and CPT Wayne Nygren.  (Apr 1991)
• Desert sunset from 31st CSH over 128th CSH in Saudi Arabia.
• We're not sure which plane.  We'll take any one!! (Apr 1991)