The official party of the 25th memorial service for the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, from the left, Councilwoman Kathleen McCormick, from the city of Greensburg, Pa., Maj. Gen. Margaret W. Boor, commanding general of the 99th Regional Support Command, Brig. Gen. Richard C. Staats, commanding general of the 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and Command Sgt. Maj. Johnny McPeek, command sergeant major of the 316th, observe the service in Greensburg, Pa. Feb. 25, 2016. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dalton Smith/Released) (Photo by Staff Sgt. DALTON Smith)
Councilwoman Kathleen McCormick, from the city of Greensburg, Pa., addresses assembled family members and Soldiers of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, based in Greensburg, Feb. 25, 2016. The memorial was for the 25th anniversary of the scud missile attack on the 14th Quartermaster Detachment during Operation Desert Storm. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dalton Smith/Released) (Photo by Staff Sgt. DALTON Smith)
Maj. Gen. Margaret W. Boor, commanding general of the 99th Regional Support Command, addresses assembled family members and Soldiers of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment in Greensburg, Pa., Feb. 25, 2016. The memorial was for the 25th anniversary of the scud missile attack on the 14th Quartermaster Detachment during Operation Desert Storm. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dalton Smith/Released) (Photo by Staff Sgt. DALTON Smith)
Master Sgt. Patrick Cabanaugh, a color guard non-commissioned officer with the 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), stands at ease during the 25th anniversary memorial ceremony of the scud missile attack on the 14th Quartermaster Detachment in Greensburg, Pa., Feb. 25, 2016. The memorial was for the 25th anniversary of the scud missile attack on the 14th Quartermaster Detachment during Operation Desert Storm. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dalton Smith/Released) (Photo by Staff Sgt. DALTON Smith)
Master Sgt. Patrick Cabanaugh, a color guard NCO with the 316th Sustainment Command Expeditionary, presents arms during the 25th memorial service for the 14th Quartermaster Detachment in Greensburg, Pa., Feb. 25, 2016. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Bigelow / 316th ESC) (Photo by Sgt. Christopher Bigelow)
A mother of a Soldier from the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, who died during a scud missile attack in Operation Desert Storm, cries while hearing the names of the fallen Soldiers of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment during a memorial service in Greensburg, Pa., Feb. 25, 2016. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dalton Smith/Released) (Photo by Staff Sgt. DALTON Smith)
U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador Fred Fair (left), and others, put their hands on their hearts while the national anthem is being played during a memorial service in Greensburg, Pa., Feb. 25, 2016. The memorial was for the 25th anniversary of the scud missile attack on the 14th Quartermaster Detachment during Operation Desert Storm. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dalton Smith/Released) (Photo by Staff Sgt. DALTON Smith)
Miniaturized monuments, dedicated to the 13 Soldiers of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment who lost their lives in a scud missile attack during Operation Desert Storm, stand present during the memorial service for the 25th anniversary in Greensburg, Pa., Feb. 25, 2016. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dalton Smith/Released) (Photo by Staff Sgt. DALTON Smith)
Friday, February 26, 2016 —
GREENSBURG, Pa. – Twenty-five years have passed since an Iraqi Scud missile destroyed the building of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, just six days into their deployment in Operation Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia. Former Soldiers of the unit and family members of the fallen showed up to support each other here, Feb. 25, 2016.
“It’s amazing to see the swell of support for these family members of the fallen Soldiers,” said Brig. Gen. Richard C. Staats, commanding general of the 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). “People came from hundreds of miles away to be here today for this event and it just warms my heart to see the support for my Soldiers both past and present.”
Thirteen Soldiers were killed and 43 were injured of the 14th QM Detachment, after only six days in the theater of operations in the Persian Gulf. The 14th suffered the greatest number of casualties of any Allied unit during Operation Desert Storm. Only hours after this tragedy the operation ended.
“This unit is back up to strength with Soldiers, even after the terrible tragedy that occurred to it, and is ready to do its mission again, which is providing clean water and other basic life-support needs,” said Staats.
For Stacey Dawson, of Jacksonville, Florida, former Specialist with the 14th QM Detachment during Operation Desert Storm, today is sad because she remembers her friends she lost. She also says today is joyous because she gets to see the same people from the unit who survived and be with them once again.
Dawson suffered a leg and multiple shrapnel injuries after being blown 25 feet outside of a building, following the missile explosion, while talking on the phone with her parents in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She said all she remembers is a big, loud explosion and Soldiers screaming for help. She then spent 10 days in a Saudi hospital and another year in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The number of participants for the ceremony outnumbered the seats available inside the tent to protect everyone from the harsh weather of rain, snow and wind. The crowd that overflowed, estimated to be more than 200, had to either stand in the back of the tent or outside to watch the events occurring.
“Today is just about remembering the 14th QM Detachment,” said Maj. Gen. Margaret W. Boor, commanding general of the 99th Regional Support Command. “It’s such an privilege to be in the presence of those who served during the operation and the families and friends of the fallen.”