Persian Gulf War
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What was he/she doing during the Persian Gulf War? Did he/she think that the U.S. would make a difference in Kuwait? Use this Topic to describe his/her experiences and emotions during this time.
Was he/she affected by the formation of "Operation Desert Storm" in 1990 and the ensuing war?
- In the spring of 1990, Iraq was threatening to use chemical weapons if Israel attacked them. Did he/she foresee the need for other countries to intervene in their dispute?
- Iraq accused Kuwait and United Arab Emirates of breaking agreements and costing billions of dollars in annual oil revenue. Did he/she think that the US should fight to preserve the security of global oil supplies?
- The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait united almost the entire world in opposition. Although it was a war, was it reassuring that there was such a strong force opposing Saddam Hussein's demands?
- On November 8, 1990, President Bush announced a force buildup, called "Operation Desert Shield." Did he/she support his/her decision? Why or why not? Did he/she think the U.S. should act as a world police force?
- Between November 8 and January 15, there were several months of waiting to see what would happen in the Persian Gulf. How did he/she and others around him feel during those long months?
- The war began with an intensive air attack, followed by a ground assault. In all, the air attack lasted five weeks and the ground attack lasted for 100 hours. During this time, what was he/she feeling? Was he/she scared? Was he/she proud of the troops?
- Did he/she constantly listen to the news? Did he/she stay up late watching the latest developments or listen at work during the war?
- The Defense Intelligence Agency reported Iraq suffered 100,000 deaths, 300,000 wounded, 150,000 deserters, and that 60,000 were taken prisoner. Did he/she think that so many casualties would occur during the war? How did it make him feel about the purpose of the war?
Did he/she serve in the military during all or part of the Gulf War?
- Which branch was he/she serving in when he/she heard that he/she would participate in the Gulf War? How did he/she feel about this? Was he/she afraid, or proud to serve his/her country?
- When did he/she begin his/her duties as part of the Gulf War? What was his/her most vivid memory of this time? Specific people or places? A certain event? The food or the heat?
- What were his/her duties during the war? Did he/she fly in air raids or was he/she part of the ground troops? Was he/she on a ship? Was he/she especially skilled at one particular task?
- Did he/she become close friends with any of those he/she served with? Did they keep in touch in later years? Did he/she save any of their lives? Did they save his?
- How did he/she keep in touch with his/her friends and family back home during this time? Did he/she save any letters he/she might have written or received? What did he/she miss most about home?
- The Gulf War introduced new technology to our society, such as S.C.U.D. missiles and advanced infrared targeting equipment. Did he/she use any of these innovations during the war? What were his/her experiences?
- Was he/she injured in any way? Describe what happened. What went through his/her mind when he/she realized he/she was hurt?
- If he/she was injured, did he/she heal quickly? Did he/she return home because of the injury, or did he/she go back to fight? How did it change him in ways that he/she noticed years later?
- Did he/she ever need to take someone's life? Describe the experience and how it affected him, both immediately and in the long term.
- When did his/her duties relating to the Persian Gulf War end? Describe this time. How was he/she feeling? Was he/she relieved that it was over? Did he/she feel that he/she had made a difference?
- Was he/she able to return to "normal functioning" after the war? Was it easy to put it all behind him and get on with his/her life, or did he/she have to struggle? What was the hardest to adjust to once he/she returned?
- Was there someone or something that was helpful in getting him through this time of adjustment? Could he/she suggest anything helpful to someone going through a similar situation?
- After all was said and done, what did he/she learn from his/her experiences in the military? Why were these lessons valuable to him? How did they change him and his/her ideas or values?
- How would he/she be different if he/she had never had these experiences?
- What sort of memorabilia did he/she save from this time? What did it symbolize to him? What memories and feelings did it bring back after the war?
Was he/she home during all or a portion of the Gulf War?
- What was it like at home? How was life different because of the war? Was there someone that he/she missed? What was the biggest sacrifice he/she had to make because of it?
- What did he/she do at home to help the war effort? Did he/she send letters or gifts to the troops overseas to help keep their spirits up? Did he/she wear a yellow ribbon or have a "Support Our Troops" bumper sticker? Did he/she think that people treated soldiers differently than they did during Vietnam?
- Did anyone close to him fight in this war? How did he/she feel when they left? Was he/she scared? Did he/she think that he/she would never see them again? How did things turn out?
- Did any of his/her family or friends die because of the war? Who? Did he/she know how he/she or he/she died? When did he/she find out about this person's death?
- How did he/she keep in touch with his/her loved ones who were away during this time? Did he/she save any letters he/she wrote or received?
- When did the war end for him? When the ground war was over? Was it when a loved one came home? Describe that day.
- Did he/she think that the Gulf War would have a lasting effect on Iraq and Saddam Hussein? Did he/she think that he/she would ever attempt anything of this nature again? Did he/she think that the fighting had gone far enough or not? Should the U.S. have captured Hussein?
- What was it like when his/her friends and family finally came home? Had they changed in ways he/she didn't expect? Had he/she changed in ways they didn't expect? What was hardest to adjust to once they got back? What was easiest?
- Did it take a long time for life to return to normal? Did it ever? Was it easy to put it all behind him and get on with his/her life or did he/she have to struggle? Why?
- What sort of memorabilia did he/she save from this time? Yellow ribbons or American flags? What did these items symbolize to him? What memories and feelings did it bring back after the war was over?