p-3;Collin Creel; Desert Storm

7/30/2019 p-3;Collin Creel; Desert Storm

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DESERT STORMBy: CCCHAPTER 1

Raymond Kenneth Blow was born on May 28, 1951 to Edna Robbins and EarlBlow. He was born on the American side of Niagara Falls, Canada. He has

two brothers Bruce Blow and Robbie Robbins. Him and his family then moved

to Pennsylvania where he went to school. He was an average student but

Ray and Bruce quit high school three weeks before graduation. Bruce

enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 1970.

While Bruce was in the Marine Corps he was an Ammo Technician. An

Ammo Technician stores, issues, inspects, repairs, and modifies all

ammunition and explosives. He got his GED from the Marine Corps and took a

year of college classes while enlisted. He was in the Marine Corps for two

years, then he went to the army. Ray got married to Lisa Jayne Allen on

February 27, 1974. After he got married they had their first daughter Heather

Ann Blow on July 19, 1974. Heather married Robert Creel, and they had two

kids Candice Renee Creel, and Collin Ray Creel. Then Ray and Lisa has their

second child Holly Marie Blow. She was born on September 9,1975. Holly

married my Uncle David Gregory who is currently in the army as an artillery

inspector. They had 3 kids David Jayden, Jozie Jayne, and Jaxon Avery.

Claudia May was born on November 13,1982. Claudia is not married right

now.

CHAPTER 2Ray had been thinking, Where is Bruce I havent seen him in a while? Where

has he been? Ray was curious and called some of Bruces army friends and

found that they had not seen him since they got back from Saudi Arabia.

They heard that someone went missing and a lot were dead. The army maybe

never found his body maybe it was lost and couldnt be found. Ray had to

make the hardest choice he ever has made in his life. To take Bruce's place

in the army or let him lay where he died, if he was dead to bring him home if

taken prisoner. In the army his soul mission was to find his brothers body

and give him the burial he deserves. The next day Ray was getting suited up

and shaved his hair exactly like Bruces so they would believe that he was

Bruce because the Army didnt know that Bruce was dead or missing, so he

had to be exactly like Bruce. Ray knew that this was going to be hard to


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accomplish but he was willing to take the risk and find his brother dead or

alive, whatever it takes. While in the army he was a tanker putting his life on

the line as a first Sergeant in command of the 24th Infantry Division. The

24th Infantry Division was a unit in Desert Storm, Korea, Operation Desert

Shield. The 24th Infantry Division was a unit consisting of tankers, snipers,Abram M1A1s, and armored transporters. They were used to go beyond

enemy lines and catch them off guard. Desert Storm started in November of

1990 and was because the United Nations interfered with Iraq trying to take

control of Kuwait.

The 24th Infantry Division was the first unit to arrive Southwest Asia. The

24th Infantry Division was part of the Rapid Deployment Force, because they

were always the first people at a war and got ready for the war the fastest.

They were brought oven in 10 large cargo ships of the U.S Navy Sealift

command, one of which Ray was on going to Saudi Arabia. The U.S Navy

Sealift Command was used to provide direct support for fleets for special

operations and transporting tankers and armored vehicles. Some divisions

were not deployed because the active duty had better troops suited for this

war. After the retreat by Iraq the 24th Infantry Division traveled 260 miles,

destroyed 360 tanks and carriers, 1,200 trucks, 300 or so ammo pieces, 25

air-crafts and 19 missiles. They were quick and ruthless, not afraid of

anything and would do anything for their country. They were so driven to

protect they country because thats where their family and friends were. The

war zone is the worst place to be. Not knowing if you are going to die or be

able to see your family again. It is hard to see your best friend die right in

front of your eyes and fall on your feet, but its harder to see a family member

like your brother die at your feet. 147 soldiers died from battle related, 145

non battle related deaths and 1 missing person from Bruces unit, and Ray

was thinking that maybe Bruce was the one person in Desert Storm that

went missing.Maybe he is not dead maybe he was taken prisoner by the Iraqi soldiers. I

have to find him no matter what it takes I am going to find Bruce and bring

him home. was Rays thoughtCHAPTER 3

Most people can not handle the war and Ray was doubting his success in

the war but was willing to risk it all for is brother Bruce. All of the training


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Ray have to go through to be in any military branch. Army, Air-force, Marines,

Navy, Navy Seals, and some of the other branches. He fought in Desert Storm

which is well known as the first gulf war, it was successfully won by the US.

The US used The Armory Division because of their Abram M1A1 tanks. The

Abram M1A1 tankers were a big part of the 24th Infantry Division. Ray andBruce have been and lived in so many places all over they world because of

the army. Ray, Lisa, Bruce, Heather, Holly, and Claudia lived in Germany for

about 2 to 3 years because Ray and Bruce were stationed there. That is

where Claudia was born. He was stationed in Egypt, Texas U.S.A, Georgia

U.S.A, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Korea. He tells Collin a lot of stories from

when he was in the Army and Marine Corp about what he did and his friends

and adventures he had while stationed. When you are in the military you have

to travel and move a lot so you are changing scenery every few months. It

gets hard especially if you have a family to take care of. Your wife always

changing jobs and kids changing schools every couple of months is hard

because they leave their friends and have to make new friends a lot. Thats

what Heather, Holly ,and Claudia had to go through. CHAPTER 4

Bruce, trapped in Iraq cold and hungry waiting for his serving of slop to

keep him alive until given back to the U.S for a ransom of $100,000. The

Iraqi soldiers knew that they had to keep their captives alive until they got

money from the U.S. Bruce was hoping for the best but expecting the worse.The Iraqi soldiers were taking their captives one by one questioning them to

find out the net plan of the U.S army and where they are now and Bruce was

nervous, knowing that if he wouldnt talk he would be whipped,slapped,

punched, kicked and tortured physically and mentally. Bruce was next called

into the interrogation room, trying to decide whether to talk or not. Bruce

was silent at first, but was whipped multiple times until he said something.

The first words that came out of his mouth were I do not know what is the

army's next major plan is and they are always on the move. Bruce was

slapped.

Now what is the U.S armys next attack plan said one of the Iraqi

interrogators.


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Bruce was not going to go against his country because or a couple of whips

and a slap. Bruce was silent yet again. The interrogators pulled an AK-47

right to Bruces head. Bruce was scared out of his mind not knowing whether

or not to talk he was about to panic. Thinking or slapping the gun away from

his head but knew he was going to be shot down and killed so he startedscreaming the U.S armys next plan.

THEY ARE COMING AT SUNRISE TO TAKE ALL OF US SOLDIERS BACK

AND KILL ALL OF YOU IRAQI TERRORISTS. Screamed Bruce. Bruce was sent back to where the captives are held sweating and

panicking.This place is like a living, burning hell. How can people take it in here, its

like jail but worse. Its a nightmare, everyday I wake up Im pinching myself

to wake myself up from this nightmare. thought Bruce. He was wondering if

Ray was thinking of him and if he was doing well, but what Bruce didnt know

was that Ray was on post in Fort Stewart, Georgia. Ray was getting ready

and trained to be as prestigious and strong as Bruce so Ray could go to

Saudi Arabia to find Bruce.

CH CHAPTER 5Day 5 of being trapped in Saudi Arabia. Bruce was worried about if the army

was coming for him and his men or not. Bruce heard rumbling and felt the

ground shake, Bruce ran to a window and looked out and saw M1A1 Abram

tanks, and Armored cars. No one knew if they were Iraqi or U.S, but then iheard a loud noise like a rocket or something and looked up on one of the

ledges of a small mountain and saw an Iraqi soldier with an RPM shooting the

tanks . BOOM!!!!. The whole building shook and scraps from the tank and

armored cars flew everywhere and killed, and wounded some of the US and

Iraqi soldiers. Bruce was unharmed because he ducked under the window as

the scraps flew through the window, others around the window were pierced

with pieces of the M1A1 Abram tanks and Armored cars. Bodies on the floor

inside and outside of the building the captives were held. Luckily Bruce was

unharmed and unscathed, not a single mark on him. Only 13 people wounded

and 6 dead, but the only ones dead were the drivers of the tanks, but the

tanks were U.S so that is a loss for all of the U.S soldiers taken prisoner.Ray was on a ship coming to Saudi Arabia when he heard news that an

M1A1 Abram tank and an armored truck were blown up in Iraqi territory, and

some prisoners were wounded. The names of the wounded warriors were


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unknown, but they knew that the people in the tanker and armored cars died

from the explosion. Ray was hoping that Bruce was alright but couldn't ask

about him because Ray had to act like he was Bruce so thought did not leave

his mind. It was stuck in his head like an annoying song the you know all of

the words but hate.CHAPTER 6

Ray had arrived in Saudi Arabia at the main base where everything was

planned and where all of the soldiers stay when they are not out on the

Battle field or behind enemy lines which Behind enemy lines is where Ray

needed to be to get to where Bruce. First Ray had to learn the battle plan

that they were going to use to get back the captured soldiers. Ray was being

shown their next plan of attack. Bruce was still suffering in Iraq being beat

for disobeying what he was being told by the Iraqi soldiers. Bruce was in line

for his lunch serving of slop when a Kuwait soldier captive came up to him

and followed him to his table and started talking gibberish.

what are you saying, Bruce said. Another Kuwait captives came over and

said He doesnt speak English. Oh that makes more sense why it sounded like gibberish, said Bruce So your trapped in this place two, sucks doesnt it, they treat us like crap

here and think they are keeping us in a good condition, said the Kuwait

captive.

How about you and me break out of this place tonight, said the Kuwait

captive. Sounds like a plan lets do it, said Bruce

OK lets meet here tonight at zero hundred hours (12:00 am), said the

Kuwait captiveCHAPTER 7

It was zero hundred hours Bruce was there but the other captive wasn't.

Bruce decided to go on, with or without him. Bruce quietly broke the lock on

the window and jumped through it. Soldiers at every turn this wasn't going to


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be easy. Bruce went behind the Building where he was held and climbed the

small mountain behind the building and ran across the flat top of the

mountain till he was outside of camp. Right before he was out of the Iraqi

camp he saw a sniper laying of the edge of the mountain. Bruce made no

sudden movements and got on the ground trying to find something sharp. Hegot up slowly and slowly walked with his back to the upper part of another

mountain. The sniper had an AK 47 laying on the floor at his feet next to a

knife. Bruce grabbed both weapons, put the AK 47 on his back with the strap

got right up next to the sniper and slit his throat. Bruce also grabbed the

sniper, put the knife in his boot, grabbed the AK 47 and put the sniper in its

place. Bruce ran down the side of the mountain and ran as far away from the

Iraqi camp as possible. They worst thing was that he didnt know which way

base camp was. He followed his gut and went south.0500 hours. Ray and his men had just woken up and heard something

rustling the woods behind them. They all grabbed their guns and one of the

mounted the machine gun on top of one of the tanks. They were right about

to put their guns down when a group of ten Iraqi soldiers came jumping out

of the wood shooing randomly shooting. Ray took two shots and killed two

out of 10 terrorists, then the U.S soldier on the gun mounted on the tank

started firing and killed the other eight. Ray had been involved in his first

shoot out in the army. None of his men were injured, first victory for Ray in

the Desert Storm, or in any war or military branch. Ray and all of his men got

in their tanks and armored cars and left for Iraq. One person on each tank

was ready to shoot with the guns mounted on the top of each tank.Bruce was had started walking thinking that he was far enough from the

camp to spot a lot of Iraqi soldiers. After 5 miles of running and a mile of

walking Bruce saw two Iraqi soldiers so he ran and jumped into the woods

for cover. When they passed the area where Bruce was laying they were side

by side so Bruce grabbed his sniper and put a 50 caliber bullet and shot. Itwas dead accurate hit one in the head went through and hit the other one in

the exact same spot, both dead, thanks to Bruces sharp shooting. Bruce

continued on his journey to find home base. Bruce was running but was not

paying attention and stepped in a pot hole and broke his ankle. Bruce was

never going to be able to make it all the way to home base with a broken


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ankle, it would take a miracle for him to make it back alive. Bruce crawled

into the woods to hide and to find a stick that resembled a cane that he

could use to take the pressure off of his broken ankle. He could not find

anything resembling a cane so h layed in th woods waiting for a U.S tank or

armored car, and if he spots an Iraqi soldier he will lay there as quiet aspossible trying not to waste his ammo.

CHAPTER 8Ray and his units still on their way to Iraq Ray was on the top of the tank

holding the gun mounted on top of the tank and saw something moving in the

woods. Ray told his unit to stop and hold fire, so he could go observe what it

was. Ray got out of the tank and went to search the woods. He went about a

mile back and saw someone on the floor, Ray saw a U.S army badge on his

shoulder and got closer. Ray got right up next to him and was staring in awe.

Bruce I have finally found you, It is me Ray. I joined the army only to find

you. Are you OK? Said Ray. Ray you did this all for me? How did you know that I was in harms way,

and I am not OK. I was whipped, beat, and almost killed 4 times. Said Bruce Yes Bruce, i heard that someone from your unit went missing so I went to

Fort Stewart to come to Saudi Arabia in the army as you to find you. Said

Ray.

Bruce, follow me to the tanks and we will take you back to home base

after we free the other captivated soldiers. Said RayAs long as I am not taken prisoner again I am OK with that. Said Bruce

OK lets go. Said rayCHAPTER 9

Ray and Bruce had made it back to the tanks after a mile of walking, time to

get back on the rode to Iraq to free all of the other war prisoners and bring

them home. Bruce was inside the tank and Ray at the gun mounted on top of

the tank. Ray saw someone run into the woods to the left of them but the

weird thing was that it was broad day light, and Rays unit was the only un-

prisoned unit in this area of Iraq, so it had to be an Iraqi soldier running from


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the tanks so Ray called open fire to his staggered riding unit. Stopped right

in his tracks. Bruce used the walkie-talkie to radio the other tanks to say

that they were at the camp were the prisoners are being held. Ray

commanded his men to fire at every Iraqi soldier that is in their sights. It was

like an ocean of Iraqi soldiers the first thing Ray saw was an RPG, the sameone that blew up h tanks that almost killed Bruce. Ray opened fire on him

and killed him only using 5 50 caliber bullets. Then the rest of Rays unit

opened fire killing every Iraqi soldier spotted, about 1,000 soldiers killed in

under 5 minuets. Half way into the camp running low on ammo. They use up

the rest of their ammo killing 100 soldiers then switched to their AK-47s.

They found the building but only 10 rounds left. This building was the most

secure of the camp but Bruce somehow escaped it and they have to infiltrate

it. Ray fired 1 or 2 shots at each person trying to use as little bullets as

possible killing most of the soldiers, but Ray did not know that Bruce had

ammo in his guns. Bruce handed Ray his gun and knife. This gave Ray double

the fire power. Ray went down to say something to the driver of his tank and

when he came back up he was not ready to fire and was shot in the left

shoulder Ray went into the tank and told the driver to go shoot with Rays

guns and his gun and for Bruce to take the wheel of the tank and drive us

into that building right into one of the walls and bust a hole in it. Ray warned

the shooter on his tank to come in and close the hatch them BAM! They all

braced for impact and all of the soldiers went running to the armored cars toget out of here before more soldiers and guards come to kill all of the

resently freed U.S soldiers. Iraqi soldiers were commanded to take position

on top of the mountain where Bruce killed that Iraqi sniper and fire at will

and not to let anything to get in their way. The U.S were smart and held fire

all except for Rays tank. Ray commanded all other tanks to stop all firing

except for his tank until the soldier on top came into the tank. They did this

so the Iraqi soldiers thought that the U.S soldiers were out of ammo and

would waste their ammo. Most of the freed soldiers were loaded up and

almost ready to go. Once they leave the camp and are about 10 miles away

from the camp they are going to call for some transport helicopters to get

the freed soldiers home to their families A.S.A.P. They were about 10 miles

from the Iraqi camp and it was nightfall and their tents had holes in them

from the Iraqi camp. So they lined u their tanks and cars in a giant oval and

dug holes to sleep in so the same would go right over them and for warmth.


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Bruce, Ray, and their unit didnt know that Iraq was planning an attack on

were they were camping. They had intel on where they were and the Iraqi

army was commanded to ambush the U.S at 0000 hours.CHAPTER 10

0000 hours. Everyone in Rays unit and the freed soldiers were dead asleep.The Iraqi army was there at the camp. Intel was correct and gave them the

exact pinpoint location of the U.S armys camp site. They couldnt get

through the barricade of tanks and armored cars they had two grenades one

was a smoke grenade, and the other was a pineapple grenade. First Iraq

threw their smoke grenade over the tanks, so they wouldnt know what was

coming for them. But the Smoke grenade woke all of the U.S soldiers up.

Then the Pineapple grenade was thrown under one of the tanks. The soldiers

heard the clanking noise of the grenade hitting the ground. thankfully their

bags were on the other side of the barricade of tanks. The U.S soldiers

grabbed their guns and slid under the tanks on the side that their bags were

on and used the tank as cover from the grenade. The U.S solders had little

ammo but same with the Iraqi soldiers. Saving ammo was key to winning this

battle. U.S on left side of barricade Iraq on the right. If not paying attention

one soldier could sneak over to the other side Ray got into one of the tanks

with Bruce and rode into the middle of the barricade to act as a blocker for

the US soldiers could get closer to their initial target. Then Ray got out of he

tank and into another, and did the same thing. Ray using the gun on top ofone tank Bruce on the other They had taken a lot of bullets for their tanks at

the Iraqi camp before they left. Ray and Bruce started firing into the crowd of

Iraqi soldiers. Ray still wounded and same with Bruce hoping not to be shot

again. Bullets flying left and right. Ray and Bruce moved their tanks closer

and closer to the Iraqi soldiers. They were exposed from the tank that was

blown up and the tanks beside it were moved. Ray commanded 5 soldiers to

get into tanks and drive them around and then circle them around the Iraqi

soldiers to surround them and then fire into the crowd. About three minuets

after Ray had commanded them to go to the other side of the barricade. Iraqi

soldiers were trapped like a rat in a cage no where to go. The soldiers come

out of the hatch on top of the tank and started firing into the trapped Iraqi

soldiers. Game over for Iraq about 1,000 Iraqi soldiers dead and about 5 U.S

soldiers dead.CHAPTER 11


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Bruce called for transporter helicopters to pickup the freed soldiers and

only the freed soldiers. The soldiers victorious in battle stayed were the

battle took place in wait for the helicopters to pick up the freed soldiers. 45

minuets later the helicopters has arrived that means about a 2 hour drive for

Ray, Bruce, and their unit. Hopefully not running into the Iraqi army, low onammo and men and three tanks gone. Ray was only trying to get back to

base as quick as possible. After this Ray and Bruce were going to leave the

army. It was exciting but putting their lives on the line was not worth Ray

leaving his family for months at a time sometimes years, was not worth

leaving his wife and kids. They had started their journey back to base

victorious with their mission Ray with his soul mission and the mission

assigned to him by the army. Now to get home without being killed. Thirty

minuets into the trip back to base something happened or well almost

happened. An Iraqi terrorists came running out of the woods yelling THIS IS

FOR IRAQ. With a bomb strapped to his chest, and a clock counting down

from one minuet and thirty seconds. No one is the unit knew how to disable a

bomb. The tubes on the bomb were clear and filled with nails and other bits

used as shrapnel the could travel at least a mile after the explosion. Bruce,

Ray and the rest of the unit were trained to go through this without fear and

without panicking.This bomb was very powerful and deadly. Fifteen seconds

left on the clock until detonation. Ray got on top of the tank and held the gun

mounted on top. Bruce started driving at top speed of about 45 miles perhour and Ray started shooting at the terrorists first shot in the bomb second

in the head and the others in the body while the terrorist was falling.

Shooting the bomb did not trigger the bomb only the timer would. Five

seconds left on the clock the terrorists was dead but the bomb was not.

Bruce let go of the gas a little so he does not blow the engine down to 35

miles per hour almost a mile away from the bomb. 3,2,1 BOOM!!! Ray quickly

got inside and closed the hatch Bruce had made it 1.3 miles away from the

bomb. Just 0.3 miles out of its range. Ray commanded the unit to wait there

for a minuet or two to wait for the smoke to go down and to make sure no

shrapnel was still in the air or the body was still in the air.

They continued their journey back to base unharmed from the bomb and

their tank still intact except for three that were blown up in their last battle

with the Iraqi soldiers. Not knowing what will happen next they journeyed on


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back to base. Still one hour and 30 minuets left in their trip and they wasted

some time with the incident with that Iraqi terrorists.CHAPTER 12

Ray, Bruce, and the rest of their victorious unit had made it back to their

base. All units were commanded to stay at base in Saudi Arabia until told toleave. Just in case Iraqi soldiers had intel on where the U.S base is and plan

an attack on it. Back at base but still not safe from an attack at any given

moment another terrorist could fun out of the woods and blow us all up, or

the whole Iraqi army could come and kill us all. we have the fire power but

they do too, and Iraq has the crazy people willing to blow themselves up for

their country that the U.S call terrorists. A command is a command and

soldiers can not disobey their commanding officer. Which Ray and Bruce

never did. Never in their life have they even thought about disobeying their

commanding officer. Rays commanding officer came up to him and told him

that he needed to show their pilots where this Iraqi camp is located. They

has one U.S plane disguised as an Iraqi plane. Ray gave directions to the

pilot directly to the camp without one mistake. They flew over the camp and

saw them setting up planes tanks and putting bombs on to some of the

planes getting ready for battle. Ray radioed his commanding officer and was

told to fire at will at the camp. Ray did as told and rapid fired on the camp

aiming for the bombs to blow up the camp, but Ray did not know that this

was not the main camp this was just one of many small camps. This war wasgoing to be historic and remembered all over the world. Ray continually fired

at the camp all he needed was to blow up one bomb to trigger the others.

The Iraqi soldiers at the camp got into tanks and fired the turrets at the U.S

plane, but the plane was to high up for the cannons to reach but the 50

caliber bullets would. Ray Hit one of the bombs triggering the other one

exploding most if not all of the Iraqi camp. They turned around and headed

back to base camp. Back at base camp Ray told his commanding officer

about the Iraqi camp and how he saw more then just that camp, the one

camp was one of many camps, and terrorist cells. This is going to be a long,

hard war. Maybe one of the toughest wars we have fought in. Nighttime,

people staying up to keep watch taking shifts so everyone gets some sleep

and the camp does not get attacked or bombed. Ray and Bruce shared their

shift and when one was called both went. It was morning on base and planes

were being sent out to watch for the Iraqi soldiers and warn everyone when


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they were coming. The planes came back in about 30 minuets when landed

they where telling Ray and their commanding officers that they had just left

their camps and some were half way to our base and we need to get our

troops out there. Ray and Bruce got their unit together and left for a battle

that could change their lives. This battle would decide weather or not the gohome in one piece or go home in a body bag. They fueled up and got their

ammo loaded up in their tanks and went to war.CHAPTER 13

Almost half way to the Iraqi camp they ran into the first wave of Iraqi

soldiers. No planes flying overhead yet but those will probably be used last to

get the last boom, or maybe they do not have any more bombs. Weather or

not Ray was going to be able to go back to his wife and three kids one more

time was bugging the crap out of him and th thought would not leave his

mind for a second. This experience of being in the army and in desert storm

was probably the scariest thing that has ever happened to him, it was

exciting at times but frightening at others but mostly frightening. The

thought that you could be dead at any given moment was the scariest part of

all but Ray just forgot about it all and went through with his mission. He had

many doubts about his success but was successful with his soul mission to

find Bruce and his assigned mission is not yet completed, but Ray was ready

to win the war and get home in one piece. The first wave was trying to kill all

U.S soldiers in he least amount of time as possible but they were justrandomly firing and wasting ammo. Rays unit was taking their time to aim

and grantee a kill and not waste ammo. The one shot one kill is better then

five shots one kill or ten shot one kill. Ray was in the hull driving one of the

tanks, Bruce handling the turret from inside the hull of the tank, and another

soldier using the high-caliber gun on top of the tank. Bruce was mainly

shooting the turret at other tanks but sometimes the Iraqi soldiers, and the

soldier using the gun on top of the tank shooting Iraqi soldiers. Soldiers

dieing on both sides but this was only one of two waves. The U.S army was

the superior side so far in this war but Ray still had his doubts, and that

thought of if he will get to be with his wife and three kids ever again still

haunted him, but it is not over until its over. This wave as almost over and so

was the Iraqi armys ammo. They strategy was not working for them but that

was good for the U.S.


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First wave was all gone, now time for the second wave. The second wave

was smaller and inexperienced. This wave was from the camp the Bruce was

held so Ray and Bruce had a problem with them and wanted them to suffer

for what they did so Ray drove full speed with the tank right into the second

wave of soldiers while Iraqs tanks were in the back of the wave Bruce wasfiring the turret into the crowd of soldiers and the tanks killing almost

everyone in the second wave easily and let the rest of the U.S army take

care of the rest. They thought that this was the last wave but thought maybe

there were more so they traveled on toward some of the Iraqi camps. It turns

out that the last wave was not the soldiers from the camp Bruce was held

before he escaped. They were still at their camp getting ready for battle

when the U.S soldiers got to their camp. The U.S soldiers infiltrated the camp

and started firing when the Iraqi soldiers unexpected it. The camp was filled

with dead bodies once the U.S soldiers had left the camp thirty minuets after

they came into the camp. Next the tried to find the next Iraqi camp not

knowing where it is they left in desperate search for the next wave of Iraqi

soldiers. Ray radioed the pilots to fly around Iraq to find some more waves of

Iraqi soldiers. It was nightfall and the troops were setting up their tents in

the woods with the tanks in a circle around the tents as a wind and sand

blocker. A couple of soldiers volunteered to keep watch at night for Iraqi

soldiers and the pilots were back at home base for the night. It was a long

night for the soldiers and had to wake up at 0530 hours and start packing up.It was 0600 hours and they U.S soldiers were all pack up and ready to go out

and find some more waves if any.CHAPTER 14

Ray radioed the pilots again to fly out and tell them where they are or where

their camp is. Ray was radioed back by the pilots 20 minuets later telling

them to go northeast for about 15 miles and then they should run into a group

of about one thousand Iraqi soldiers. The U.S pilots were flying over the Iraqi

soldiers hoping that they would not notice them and fire. If they were to fire

three of their planes would be totally destroyed and most likely blown up.

Their cover blown and three soldiers would be dead, and the army tries its

hardest keep every soldier alive and unharmed but any thing could happen in

war you could get shot or blown up any second of the day. The army made it

to where the pilot told them to go and saw something in the distance and got

every U.S soldier into the woods for an ambush on the Iraqi soldiers. The


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Iraqi soldiers had turned the corner and walk right past the U.S soldiers.

They were commanded to leave the tanks there and the soldiers in the

armored cars to run out and people in tanks to wait until commanded to

move they did not leave the woods but got to the edge and fired at the Iraqi

soldiers. They were not holding their guns but had them on their backs andwere not ready for it but that is why its called an ambush. Twenty Iraqi

soldiers were already killed before they could even pick up their guns. After

about 100 Iraqi soldiers were killed and 47 U.S soldiers killed the tanks were

called into this battle and the planes overhead started firing on the group of

Iraqi soldiers. In about 25 minuets later the group of one thousand soldiers

were all dead and only about 65 U.S soldiers were dead, and the pilots were

sent out again to find more waves or camps of Iraqi soldiers. All troops were

commanded to keep on the same path as the last wave of Iraqi soldiers and

try to find their camp.They had not heard back from the pilots but kept on going on their path to

find more waves and camps. They ran into an extremely large wave larger

than all the others put together. there was about 5000 Iraqi soldiers so the

US was not out numbered it about even but how did the pilots miss this wave

of Iraqi soldiers. It is almost impossible to miss this wave, it is so big. The

battle had begun and this was going to take a while and was probably going

to be the last of the waves and Ray was hoping that it was the last wave.

This is going to be an intense battle probably the hardest Ray has ever had tofight in. All of the tanks started and Ray radioed the pilots telling them to go

to where the other wave was until he saw the battle. The planes had made it

and started firing on the Iraqi soldiers blowing up tanks and killing soldiers

the planes were out of bullets fast. Bruce was shooting the turret at the

other tanks and the soldier on top on the tank was firing the high-caliber gun

at the Iraqi soldiers. Still almost all of the soldiers in tack only 67 Iraqi

soldiers killed and 28 U.S soldiers killed. The Iraqi planes flew over head and

dropped a bomb right in the middle of the crowd of Iraqi soldiers and U.S

soldiers. The U.S soldiers heard the plane go by and knew that they were not

U.S planes but Iraqi planes. They could tell by the sound of the plane. They

Saw bombs drop out of the planes and ran into the woods, it was a small

bomb but could still do damage. It was not a retreat but the opposite, it was

a tactical strategy that the U.S soldiers used to let the Iraqi pilots kill they

own soldiers. The Iraqi soldiers did not know that this was going on because


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they did not have a commander in this wave. The commander of this wave

was safe at a camp safe from harms way, he called the planes on this battle

but did not tell the soldiers. This was really bad for the Iraqi soldiers but

good for the U.S soldiers. This war was almost over, or so they thought so.

The U.S army had been victorious so far in every battle. Only 21 U.S soldiersdied during the explosion and they only lost about 200 soldiers so far in the

battles fought in Saudi Arabia. That is U.S has four wins, zero losses, Iraq

zero wins, four losses. The U.S soldiers kept on going on thins path trying to

find more waves of Iraqi soldiers to kill. Pilots were still flying around looking

for camps and groups of Iraqi soldiers. They had walked about a mile and

then heard something in the woods. The U.S soldiers just thought it was

some kind of animal so they just ignored it.

ITS AN AMBUSH, yelled Ray while on top of his tank. They all pulled out their guns as the Iraqi soldiers came out of the woods

they were being shot because they blew their cover.

They will never win this war, Ray said to Bruce.Never underestimate them Ray, they are crazy but ruthless, Bruce said to

Ray. Well you have been in the army longer and have faced the Iraqi soldiers

before and been face to face with them. I have not done that I am inside this

tank all day every day. Ray said to Bruce.

Still do not underestimate anyone. Bruce said to Ray. CHAPTER 15

The ambush was still going on and about half of the Iraqi soldiers were dead

because of them giving up their place by making noise in the woods. Being

stealthy is key in the army, one sudden movement and your position is given

away. This wave was almost over with only about a quarter of Iraqi soldiers

left, the wave was pretty much over and done with. After every Iraqi soldier

in this wave was killed they headed back to their base camp because

tomorrow was thanksgiving day, 1990. They drove back to base camp and

went straight to sleep not really worrying about lookouts, and just tried to


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get a good nights sleep for Thanksgiving day. Thanksgiving day soldiers were

allowed to video chat with their wives, kids, friends or parents whom ever

they want to call and let know that they are alive and say happy

thanksgiving. That is what they did Thanksgiving morning but the rest of

their day was like normal all except they did not go out looking for waves ofIraqi soldiers they spent the day on base camp, it was kind of like taking a

break. That day President George H. W. Bush came to Saudi Arabia to give a

speech, spend time with the soldiers and say Happy Thanksgiving personally

to every U.S soldier on base. They next day all soldiers were sent out again

to find waves and camps of Iraqi soldiers. Out in an area that the U.S soldiers

were unfamiliar with. There was no more waves of Iraqi soldiers so U.S

soldiers were sent home except for a few who were sent to a U.S army base

in Egypt, Two of which were Ray and Bruce.CHAPTER 16

Ray and Bruce had just made it to Egypt. The first thing they saw while

flying into Egypt was the huge pyramids and all of the other architecture.

They were too busy with wars to explore Egypt by them selves while

stationed there. At least they were able to drive their tanks around Egypt

and get to observe a little of the breathtaking architecture. The good thing

about being transferred to Egypt was that Rays wife and kids were flown

over to Egypt to live there with Ray and Bruce. Ray had not sen his wife and

kids for about 2 months. Ray had really missed Lisa, Heath, Holly, andClaudia and was excited and happy that they could live in Egypt with him. In

1984 Egypt gave the U.S permission to build a giant factory that was used to

produce tanks. Egypt contributed 30,200 troops, 2 armoury divisions, and 350

tanks to the U.S during Desert Storm also known as the Gulf War. In Egypt

Ray and Bruce were to help the Egyptian army, which was the best of the

Egyptian armed forces. Ray and his family lived in Egypt for about a year his

wife and kids were in awe of the pyramids and other architecture and the

hieroglyphics inside of the pyramids which are not understandable but

something that is that old is a once in a life time chance to look at.

Before Ray and Bruce were stationed in Egypt, they were stationed in Texas

U.S.A. Before that he was stationed in Germany for about a year. In Germany

while Ray and Bruce and their families were there their were a lot of floods

and a little girl got sucked into the current and was swept away and Lisa,


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Ray wife went out and saved her lifeBefore that they were stationed in

Georgia U.S.A, and that is where they enlisted into the army Everywhere Ray

was stationed that there was not a war his wife and kids went with him, so

his kids were constantly moving, changing schools and having to make new

friends every year. Ray and Bruce were called back into Saudi Arabiabecause the U.S was suspicious about the Iraqi soldiers trying to take over

Kuwait again. Ray and Bruce were both one hundred percent healed from

wounds that happened the last time they were in Iraq.CHAPTER 17

Ray and Bruce had made it to base camp in Saudi Arabia. This brought back

many bad memories and some exciting victories. His entire unit was also

commanded to go to Saudi Arabia for this suspicion on Iraq. On day of arrival

the troops were sent out as soon as possible to track down and kill the rest

of the Iraqi soldiers that are trying to take their neighboring country Kuwait.

They went on a path that seemed very familiar to Ray and Bruce. It was the

same path they took about four years ago when they were in Iraq doing the

same thing they are doing no in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, but this time it was

just Ray, Bruce, and their unit that they commanded together. It felt like

hours before they found their first wave of Iraqi soldiers. There was two tank

about a half of a mile ahead of them. The Iraqi soldiers were out numbered

because Ray and Bruces unit had 15 tanks. Ray closed in on the Iraqi tanks

and commanded there unit to get about 35 feet away from the enemy tanksline up in a horizontal line and fire one turret from each tank, their was no

way that they would miss. The Iraqi tanks were blown up by the turrets, and

all the soldiers inside of them dead. Each U.S tank was loaded with 10

turrets and 1000 rounds of high- caliber bullets. Their first encounter with the

Iraqi soldiers was a success, now time to find more waves of enemy soldiers.

Their commanding officer said their was at least 5 waves of enemy soldiers,

so they still had to find 4 more. About two miles up the road there was

another group of tanks but this time there were five tanks. They used the

same tactic as before and yet again it worked all of the tanks blown up and

the soldiers all dead, two down three to go. All of their attacks were sneak

attacks they did not know that they were right behind them, they knew at

last minuet but could not do anything fast enough to dodge it. The road came

to a split, only left and right no straight. They went left to see what they

could find after about six miles they were going to turn around and go right.


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Nothing was to the left so they went back and and went the other way. They

drove about 10 miles and were thinking about turning around and going back

to base when they was a big Iraqi camp. There was about 20 tanks in the

camp so it was probably two or three waves of Iraqi tanks in this camp. Their

unit was about 25 feet from the camp and the other soldier in Ray andBruces tank got on top of the tank to where the high-caliber gun was but did

not fire just yet. Bruce was aiming the turret at the camp but did not fire. All

of the other tanks did the same. Ray moved the tanks closer to the camp and

commanded every tank is his unit to fire three turrets each at the camp. 45

turrets were fired at the camp. The whole camp was destroyed from all of the

45 turrets. A U.S pilot was flying over head looking for some more waves if

any. The pilot radioed Ray say two more surprise waves of Iraqi soldiers

were found. Ray, Bruce and their unit kept on going on the path they were on

to find to Iraqi soldiers.CHAPTER 18

Ray, Bruce and their unit were still searching but found nothing. They were

about 10 miles from the last Iraqi camp they had passed by. They were not

here for Desert Storm, They were there to make sure Iraq was not going to

try to do anything again. The U.S pilot radioed Ray again, the Iraqi soldiers

he saw were going towards Kuwait, they are on the same path as you so you

need to hurry up and get there, the U.S pilot told Ray.

OK we will pursue the Iraqi tanks right away Ray told the U.S pilot Ray, Bruce and their unit went off to pursue the Iraqi soldiers without

hesitation. It was a little boring at first because nothing was happening and

they wanted to get to the action right away. They had traveled about 10

miles from when the pilot last radioed Ray and were closing in on the Iraqi

soldiers. Ray was getting nervous because they did not know how many

soldiers there was where they were going. They followed the directions that

they were given by the U.S pilot. They unit traveled about 20 miles and sawnothing and had made it to Kuwait. They radioed the pilot saying his

directions were wrong. The pilot radioed back saying that they were

supposed to go the other way. Ray radioed the pilot saying you told us to

stay on this path. The pilot radioed again saying that he got confused, and

told them the wrong directions, my bad. They stayed in Kuwait and drove to


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the left to try to intersect the Iraqi soldiers while they are going to Kuwait.

They made it to an opening and it was the other side of the split. They saw

the soldiers about 500 feet away from Kuwait. Ray got his unit to make a

road block in front of them and fire their turrets. The Iraqi tanks did not have

turret guns gust a gun on top, they were not as high tech as the U.S tankswere. This was the last two waves of Iraqi tanks put together, it was a group

of about 23 tanks that they had to destroy. The Iraqi soldiers were using their

guns that were mounted on top of their tanks and the U.S using their turrets

and blowing up tanks 4 at a time this was going by fast then one of the Iraqi

tanks rammed into Ray and Bruces tank. The front of the tank caved in and

caught Rays leg and Bruces leg. The other soldier took the fire extinguisher

and started banging the front of the tank trying to get Rays leg and Bruces

leg out from under the crushed front of the tank. The rest of the unit kept on

firing turrets until all of the Iraqi tanks were gone. Their mission was

completed.A soldier from Ray and Bruces unit called a rescue chopper to fly them

back to the U.S as fast as possible while the rest of the unit and their tanks

were brought over by a huge ship. Ray and Bruce were back in the U.S in

about 2 hours and were rushed to a hospital with a lot of lost blood and with

one leg each that might have to be amputated. Their families were called to

the hospital and Ray and Bruce both had huge gashes in their legs from the

metal on the tank and pieces of metal in their legs. First the doctors had to

carefully remove the piece of metal that pierced their bone about halfway

through the bone. They almost had to get their legs amputated but thankfully

they did not have to. The doctors and to carefully make sure the bone was in

place which it was not, so they had to put the bone in place. Then the

doctors had to stitch up the gash that went up their entire shins with 50

stitches. Then the doctors had to mold a six layer cast on to both Rays leg

and Bruces leg and then dry it. Their casts had to stay on for about a year

then they both were put into rehab so they could learn how to use their legs

again to walk and run and jump and everything. Ray and Bruce both retired

from the army after this incident with the tank. Going through rehab was

really hard at first, you have to learn to walk and run all over again. First in

rehab they had to learn to stand with equal wait on both feet no favoring one

leg over the other. Then they had to stand on one foot , the foot being your


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injured leg. Next they learned to walk in a straight line without limping, then

jog, and then run. Before they could run they learned how to jump. They did

not have to start rehab until they had their cast taken off.

CHAPTER 19Ray and Bruce retired an E8 First Sergeants. They have been given three

msm awards, 2 arcom awards, and 6 aam awards. Msm stands for

Meritorious Service Medal, Arcom stands for Army Commendation Medal, and

aam stands for Army Achievement Medal. Bruce was found and Ray and

Bruce were healing from a hard long time of being in the war. Being out of

the war zone was the best thing ever for Ray and Bruce. Now they live in

Glennville Georgia and Ray owns his own car shop called R&B Engine that he

started with Bruce. R&B Engine stands for Ray and Bruce Engine. Bruce later

quit and went to work in Fort Stewart Georgia, an army Base in Georgia as a

highly qualified security guard. He makes sure that the people who are trying

to get on post are either army or direct family of someone in the army. If you

do not have an army licence to get on post they guards have to inspect your

car and do a back round check before your allowed on post, but the name of

the company R&B Engine remained the same. Now Ray runs the shop and

works on cars by himself. He has 5 grand-kids, Candice, Collin, Jayden

Gregory, his sister Jozie Gregory, and their brother Jaxon Gregory.WAR STORIES

Got back to The Rock late at night and went straight to bed but

woken up by the sound of B-52 bombers flying overhead shaking the

barracks with the first bombing of Desert Storm. Standing in a small

tower on the air strip were many soldiers watching ad the first

bombing occurred but missed The Rock if that was what they were

aiming for. This was a bad day for me and probably all other soldiers

around me. The days we were not out on the battle field, we were out

in a field doing target practice and sometimes doing obstacle coursesor training for the next time we were going to go out on to the battle

field. Now that i think back i can remember all of the hardcore training

we had to do and i remember the day i enlisted. We had to take six

months of training to be in the military no matter what branch you had

to have six months of harsh, hardcore training. When the pilots went


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scouting to find enemy soldiers the soldiers got ready and in their

tanks with ammo and a full tank of gas and patrolled the area no more

than 20 miles away from the camp but the pilots flew all over the

place looking for enemy soldiers. the pilots scouted in the day and

soldiers at night, and soldiers keep watch at night just to be safe from

a sneak attack or a bombing. They took shifts as lookout and every

soldier at the rock had to take at least a 2 hour shift, and snipers were

on duty as well. The night time lookout shift was easy because barely

anything happened but sometimes something happened but rarely, so

it still had to be done. People think being in the army is really easy but

for those people never enlist in the army, it is harder than you think it

is. Its not just a walk in a park it is risking your life for the freedom of

others, and protecting your home land where your family lives, the

place you were born and raised. You are putting your lies in the hands

of your fellow comrades and trusting that they make the right decision

at the right time. Without the military the U.S would not exist as a

whole. e would be broken into smaller parts. It wouldn;t be the same

as it is today in a lot of ways.We wouldnt have all of the privileges

that we have today. We would be able to gather at a place of worship

or have the freedoms that we have today. The constitution wouldnt

exist at all. With all of the bomb threats and everything else happening

in the world the U.S military is dealing with. The pain and suffering not

being able to see family and friends while in the war your kids growing

up not really knowing their father, its hard to deal with. You have to

choose your memories wisely and have different values in life. Most

people would usually think that money or friends would be the most

important thing in life but when you have family in the military you

tend to believe that your family is the most important thing in lifebecause you never know when you are going to see them again, or if

you are ever going to see them again.It is really hard being in the war. Their are a lot of things that can

harm you while being in the war. Besides the fact that you could lose


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your life but after the war you could always have traumatic stress

after something like war. It is severely serious and is lifelong after you

first get it. When you have post traumatic stress you ave to go to

therapy quite frequently.There are also other serious injuries than stress and death, such as:

Artificial limbs, Becoming Paralysed in any part of your body, blind,

deaf, mute due to post traumatic stress, punctures from shrapnel, and

being shot. All of these injuries can be very fatal and some permanent

but not deadly.The best part of the war is being able to serve your country i a

special way that most people do not have the chance or the guts todo, and to be able to come home to your family and friends hopefully

alive and healthy, with all limbs attached. Getting to see you wife, your

kids, and your friends after you get out of the military or war is one of

the best things that come from coming home from a war. The

excitement of coming home after a long time of not seeing your family

members and you friends and close relatives. Some people are in war

for 6 years, 6 years of not seeing your loved ones and close friends.

Soldiers count down the days until they get to see their wives, kids,

close relatives, and friends again. Soldiers video call their families but

not everyday and they do not get to see them in person they have to

see them on a small computer screen. They can not wait till the day

they get to go home.

Documents

p-3;Collin Creel; Desert Storm