Preface

This anthology is organized into five sections: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, after Desert Storm, related topics, and appendices. Within the first two sections, the entries begin with a broad overview and gradually work down the chain of command to the impressions of the Marine rifleman. Thus, the first section begins with an article by Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons, USMC (Ret), which describes the deployment of Marines to the Persian Gulf in the broadest terms, and concludes with a report by Henry Allen describing how individual Marines reacted to their deployment. The second section opens with materials describing the conflict from the perspective of Lieutenant General Walter E. Boomer, US MC, the commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force. It then moves from the division, wing, and force service support group level to accounts describing the actions of a regiment, followed by battalions and a squadron, to conclude with reports of actions by platoons and squads. The fourth section consists of an article describing the Marine Corps' role in Operation Provide Comfort, the multinational humanitarian relief effort extended to the Kurdish refugees after Iraq's defeat. The fifth section begins with a letter from a Marine to a class of school- children, which describes his reasons for fighting and also reflects the tremendous support shown to all servicemen and women by the American people. Last is an article on relations between the military and the media. The appendices provide useful references, including the task organization, chronology, and annotated bibliography. This collection represents the efforts of a great number of people. Miss Evelyn A. Englander, the Marine Corps Historical Center librarian, spent a great deal of time collecting articles from numerous professional journals, from which Major Charles D. Melson, USMC (Ret), formerly of the History and Museums Division's Histories Section, made the initial selection of materials for inclusion in the anthology and the bibliography. Major Melson also selected all maps with the exception of those that have been reprinted from the original articles. Miss Cynthia L. Davis of the Madeira School provided the bulk of the bibliographic annotations under the supervision of Miss Englander. Captain David A. Dawson, USMC, of the Histories Section, was responsible for the final selection of entries, and wrote their introductions. Mrs. Ann A. Ferrante of the Reference Section acquired the task organization and compiled the chronology. Mr. Benis M. Frank, Chief Historian, reviewed the materials. Editing and Design Section staff members Mr. W. Stephen Hill and, particularly, Mrs. Catherine A. Kerns worked diligently to transform a collection of clippings into its present form. Colonel Daniel M. Smith, USMC, Deputy Director of Marine Corps History and Museums, and Brigadier General Simmons, Director of Marine Corps History and Museums, provided guidance and final review.

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