Air Force, families, Kuwaiti ambassador remember Gulf War sacrifices

  • Published
  • By Capt. Chris Sukach
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --   
Families of service members who lost their lives in the Gulf War gathered together Mar. 13 here  to pay tribute to their loved ones as part of a 20th anniversary remembrance ceremony held at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

The commemoration honored those who gave their lives liberating the State of Kuwait through operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Provide Comfort.

The Kuwaiti ambassador in Washington, Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, expressed his nation's thanks for the liberation of the country 20 years ago.

"There are no words to express the enormous gratitude of the Kuwaiti people for America's role in leading an international coalition that literally saved my home country," Ambassador Al-Sabah said. "Kuwait is deeply grateful to the young men and women of the coalition forces, from many nations around the world, for the selfless role they played when they were called upon to help save the people of a small and far-away nation from the brutal aggression of a ruthless neighbor."

Maj. Gen. James O. Poss, the Air Force Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, the guest speaker, remembered his fellow Gulf War veterans.

He recounted the horror of losing 14 Airmen when "Spirit 03," an AC-130H Spectre gunship crashed, resulting in the largest single loss of life suffered by any Air Force unit during the Gulf War.

"These 14 Airmen died heroically providing direct support to the U.S. Marines and coalition forces on the ground in a battle for the town of Khafji, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the general said. "Their unselfish act to support their comrades on the ground put them in the area longer than they had anticipated -- a risk they accepted. As the morning light broke over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the enemy took advantage of that and targeted them."

General Poss added that during the past two decades he's reflected with great sadness on the casualties the Air Force, sister services and coalition forces experienced during the Gulf War but noted the service members did not die in vain.

"Despite the sacrifice, I knew it was worth it when I saw Kuwaiti citizens materialize, seemingly out of nowhere, right in the middle of the Great Nefud Desert where we were deployed in Southern Kuwait to cheer on the coalition forces that liberated their country," General Poss said. "I knew it was worth it when in the many conflicts and situations since Desert Storm, I've seen our Kuwaiti allies standing shoulder to shoulder with us as good allies always do."

Ambassador Al-Sabah echoed the sentiment and said the Kuwaiti people will always remember and appreciate the sacrifices made for them.

"So I hope that even as we salute those who fell in battle, mourn with their loved ones, and express our gratitude to all those who shared in our liberation twenty years ago, please believe me that Kuwait will never forget them," the Ambassador said. "We carry what they did within our hearts every single day."