Persian Gulf War Papers, PGW
Abstract
The Persian Gulf War Papers is composed of collections documenting the role of North Carolinians and North Carolina military installations during what became known as the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991). This period covers the United States' involvement in a coalition military force during Operation Desert Shield for operations leading to the buildup of troops and defense of Kuwait, and Operation Desert Storm in its combat phase.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Persian Gulf War Papers
- Call Number
- PGW
- Creator
- Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina
- Date
- 1990-1992
- Extent
- 1.46 cubic feet
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Collection Overview
The Persian Gulf War Papers is composed of collections documenting the role of North Carolinians and North Carolina military installations during what became known as the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991). This period covers the United States' involvement in a coalition military force during Operation Desert Shield for operations leading to the buildup of troops and defense of Kuwait, and Operation Desert Storm in its combat phase.
Historical Note
The Persian Gulf War lasted from August 1990 to April 1991. This period covers the
United States' involvement in a United Nations coalition military force during Operation
Desert Shield for operations leading to the buildup of troops and defense of Kuwait,
and Operation Desert Storm in its combat phase. This international conflict was triggered
by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein ordered
the invasion and occupation of Kuwait, with the apparent aim of acquiring that nation's
large oil reserves; canceling a large debt Iraq owed Kuwait; and expanding Iraqi power
in the region. On August 3, 1990, the United Nations Security Council called for Iraq
to withdraw from Kuwait, and on August 6 the council imposed a worldwide ban on trade
with Iraq. Operation Desert Shield started in the United States on August 7, 1990,
when U.S. President George H. W. Bush orders the start of the operation in preparation
for a war or invasion of Iraq. Operation Desert Storm covers the actual UN coalition
combat phase that began between January 16-17, 1991, as a U.S.-led air offensive against
Iraq that lasted 42 days. Operation Desert Sabre, a massive allied ground offensive,
was launched northward from northeastern Saudi Arabia into Kuwait and southern Iraq
on February 24, 1991; and within three days, Arab and U.S. forces had retaken Kuwait
city in the face of crumbling Iraqi resistance. U.S. President Bush declared a cease-fire
on February 28, 1991, essentially ending the combat phase of the period. The war also
involved the post-war repairing of Kuwait oil wells by foreign and U.S. contractors.
This was caused by the Kuwaiti oil fires set by Iraqi military forces setting fire
to a reported 605 to 732 oil wells, along with oil released into open areas, as part
of a scorched earth policy while they retreated from Kuwait in 1991 due to the advances
of UN coalition military forces. The fires were started in January and February 1991.
The first well fires were extinguished in early April 1991, with the last well capped
on November 6, 1991.
Contents of the Collection
Scope and Content:
The collection contains military photo identification card, 1990, for PO3/E4 Ricky A. Blue of the city of Maxton in Robeson County, N.C., who served in the U.S. Navy aboard the battleship USS Iowa.
Scope and Content:
The collection is composed of a typescript reminiscences entitled "Operation Desert
Storm, Lightening and Thunder" in three chapters, documenting the U.S. Army service
of 2nd Lt. Robert W. Holmes of Virginia concerning his service as a tank platoon leader
with TF-164, 24th Infantry Division, during the Persian Gulf War. The account was
written by Holmes around 1995.
Scope and Content:
The collections is composed of training materials and collected Cold War miscellaneous
materials, documenting the service of Sgt.
Sterling Nicholson of the town of Jamestown, N.C., in the U.S. Army National Guard
during the Persian Gulf War. The materials include a field manual entitled Battle Focused Training (1990); the booklet Desert Shield Aircraft Recognition (1990); eleven posters depicting silhouettes of Allied and Soviet airplanes, helicopters,
tanks, and armored vehicles; reference cards for infantry leaders and fire observation;
information wheels concerning Soviet and Warsaw Pact artillery, communiciations equipment,
and surface-to-air missiles; and two packs of study cards, including survival cards
for Southeast Asia from 1968 and Soviet word recognition cards from 1985.
Scope and Content:
The collection is composed of materials reflecting the military service of Frederick E. Stoehr of the town of Carolina Shores, N.C. The items include an Iraqi soldier's handbook taken from a captured tank; and ninety-six photographs of Kuwait during the Gulf War, including several of burning oil wells. There are three booklets entitled A Diary of an Iraqi Soldier (1992); A Message to Whom the Issues of this Nation May Concern (1992); and Construction and Destruction, concerning the Kuwait National Museum. There are three newspapers issues, including the Kuwait Times Spectrum, ated April 13, 1993; issue of the Arab Times, dated April 14, 1993; and special section of the Arab Times, February 26, 1992.
Access Restrictions:
There are no restrictions on access for this collection.
Biographical/Historical:
Robert "Bob" Wayne Blackford was born on May 27, 1947, in Stroudsburg, Monroe County,
Pennsylvania to Norman Andrew Blackford and Beulah Storm Blackford. He had two siblings,
an older brother, James Lynn Blackford, and a younger sister, Linda Sue Blackford.
While in high school, he received a certificate from the New Jersey State Police honoring
his service as a safety) guard. He graduated from high school in 1965 and continued
his education at a vocational school and was granted a degree in industrial engineering.
With this education, he was hired by IBM in the late 1960s where he worked mostly
in the repair area for equipment owned by IBM.
Blackford joined the U.S. Navy in 1968. He attended boot camp in San Diego, California
before being designated Aviation Electronics Technician - Radio (ATN). He joined his
squadron, Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4), at Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni,
Japan in Aug. 1968 and the following month went to NAS Cam Ranh Bay, Viet Nam as ground
support for the squadron's P-3s, returning to Japan in early October. The squadron
returned to NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii on January 31st, 1969. On Thanksgiving Day 1969,
the squadron flew to NAS Adak, Alaska for our next six-month deployment: four months
in Adak, and two months in Agana, Guam.
In March of 1971, he transferred to NAS Alameda, California for shore duty where he
served as ground support to repair any transient aircraft. His enlistment expired
in March of 1972, and returned to civilian life having obtained the rank of ATN 2nd
Class.
On June 20, 1970, at age 23, Bob Blackford married Marion Kershaw in California where
he lived at the time. Over the next ten years, two moved to Apex, Wake County, North
Carolina and had two children: Robert A. Blackford and Jeffrey E. Blackford. Bob and
Marion divorced in June 1981.
In August 1976 Blackford enlisted in the 440th Aviation Brigade of the North Carolina
Army National Guard at the recommendation of a friend. In the National Guard his primary
role was to maintain and repair communications systems in UH 1 and OH 58 helicopters.
In March of 1983 he transferred to the 139th Rear Area Operations Center (RAOC) and
became a Radio Teletype Crew Chief, and in October 1984 he was appointed to the position
of Food Services Supervisor (Mess Sergeant) and held this position until May of 1989
when he returned to communications.
Blackford's unit was activated during Operation Desert Storm, and they were sent to
Saudi Arabia. After serving six months in-country, he was called home by the Red Cross
to be with his father who was terminally ill. When his leave was completed, he returned
to Fort Bragg to serve until his unit returned from overseas. Blackford retired upon
returning from Saudi Arabia in 1991 having obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant.
In 1989, Blackford married Hope Blackford, and the two resided in Apex, NC. Blackford
retired from IBM in 1995 after 30 years with the company. In his retirement, he served
as a paramedic with Apex Rescue Squad and as a volunteer with the American Red Cross.
He also volunteered with Triangle J Council of Governments as a peer counselor and
God's Funny Folks.
Robert Blackford died on April 5, 2021.
Scope and Content:
The Robert W. Blackford Papers contains documents, photographs, correspondence, and
newspapers relating to Blackford's time in the North Carolina Army National Guard
when his unit was federalized during Desert Storm. The bulk of the materials in the
collection are a series of correspondence between Robert and his wife, Hope, while
he was stationed in Saudi Arabia. The correspondence has been kept in binders, as
organized by the donor, and includes notes regarding the subjects and individuals
mentioned.
The collections also contains training manuals and orientation materials given to
National Guard members. There are also several editions of Saudi newspapers and maps
that Robert collected during deployment.