"We haven't seen each other in over 30 years." Reunion brings Gulf War veterans together
NORTH CANTON – Warm embraces and joyful greetings filled the picnic shelter in Price Park as Gulf War veterans came together for a social reunion 31 years after the military conflict against Iraq.
"We haven't seen each other in over 30 years," said Andrea Jeffers, who coordinated the reunion that brought together former members of the 762nd Transportation Medium Truck Co. "People are so excited. We are an extended family."
Jeffers is a former Stark County resident who lives in Breaux Bridge, La. The Gulf War, fought in 1991, involved a military coalition of several nations led by the United States that assembled to force Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. The war, fought in the Middle East, also is referred to as Desert Storm.
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"This event, I have been looking forward to it," said Steven Ling, "It has been three decades since I have seen these people. I am very proud of our service over there. I was a truck driver. I was a unit armorer. I had to account for weapons inventory."
Ling was in the locally base Army Reserve 762nd Transportation Medium Truck Company. Currently he is finance manager for the Stark County Health Department. Ling wore a blue T-shirt with the lettering Desert Storm and a map of the Persian Gulf.
About 125 guests expected at event
Inside the park tent were picnic tables covered with white table cloths. On the tables were small American flags and frames illustrations of combat boots. About 125 guests were expected to attend the reunion in the park located in the 1000 block of W. Maple Street.
Some of those at the reunion, such as Vernon Edwards, recall some of the ghastly episodes of the war, such as the Highway of Death.
Edwards was a sergeant in the Army, but he was assigned with the Army Reserve unit at the time. The Highway of Death occurred in late February of 1991 when coalition military aircraft bombed motor vehicles containing Iraqi personnel fleeing from the war zone.
"My unit was like the first one to go there," said Edwards, who lives in the North Canton area. "Everybody was on fire, bodies were burning. It was horrible,"
Edwards commanded some of those who attended the reunion.
"Some of them I had to yell at," said Edwards, who was considered a truck master. "I was over there 11 months. The war didn't last that long. We spent most of our time bringing equipment back to port."
Included in the reunion were hot meals, soft drinks and raffles.
While the Persian Gulf ended in a military success for the United States, there was a person in attendance from an earlier conflict, the Vietnam War. Army veteran Ronald Holmes, who was awarded two Purple Hearts, offered a sobering reflection while seated at a picnic table.
"We are always going to be fighting different wars all along," said Holmes, who lives in North Carolina. "I feel we are going to be in Ukraine before long."
Reach Malcolm at 330-596-0326 or malcolm.hall@catnonrep.com
On Twitter: mhallREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Reunion brings together Gulf War 762nd Transportion Co. veterans
