Jon Clarke Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Timeline: August 1990 I returned to Baghdad where I was working and was detained as a hostage for 4.5months December 11th ( I think) released as a hostage and flew back to UK. January 16th 1991 Desert Storm operation commences February 28th 1991 Cease fire declared. 2nd March flew to Saudi to organise purchase of 2nd hand ARAMCO ( the Saudi Oil Company) pickup trucks and essential provisions to take to Kuwait for the few company workers who had arrived in Kuwait City around 3rd march. Left Saudi Arabia leading a convoy of 5-6 pickups and drove to the Kuwait border where the vison of apocalypse became evident. Daytime but all the thick arid smoke from 700+ oil well fires turned day to night. After arrival, got to work in the firefighter support section where we assisted in supporting the eventual 27 firefighting teams. Unforgettable experience but paying for it health wise in my senior years. I just thought some maybe interested also in the linked video made by the company I worked for and available on Youtube here: 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taph Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Great post Thanks 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper31 Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 I did find it an interesting video Jon, especially since I was a young Paratrooper in the 101st Long Range Surveillance Detachment then, deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield and then conducting operations into Iraq for Desert Storm. I absolutely remember those fires and all the smoke, as my teams main mission, once combat ops started for the ground invasion, put us under and in much of that fire smoke. So much so that it's all documented in my military medical records and I too feel the effects (although probably not near as much as someone who fought the actual fires like yourself). I had only been in the military a little over a year when all that happened. Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? Ah, well, thanks for the nostalgia Cheers Landon 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Pettichord Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Wow, Jon, that's a story worth two novels. Glad you made it through. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregmorin Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Scouting in Maine Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Clarke Posted February 8, 2022 Author Share Posted February 8, 2022 This is how the Hungarian fire fighting team dealt with fires. The vid also gives a much greater impression of the effects of the smoke causing daytime to be like a dark night and also the sheer noise caused by the well head pressure. Many fires sounded like Concorde was taking off in your back yard 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wain71 Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 two tremendous videos there Jon, at least you are here to tell the tale... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hargreaves Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Fascinating stories there thanks for posting this. Bunch of ordinary blokes doing amazing work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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