European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a a a the stars and stripes Friday january 18,1991war in the Golf a a Ltd is amps Vince Crawley . Flight Crews left return to their air base in the persian Gulf on thursday after bombing raids against Iraq the Early reports of Success led to widespread optimism among the ground troops right including pfc. Dannie Adams background and 1st sgt. George Scanlon both of the 13th Ord co of Jort Bliss  pilots Back pleased with results Byron Jensen and Vince Crawley Middle East Bureau saudi Arabia col. George a John boy Walton returned from the iraqi skies at about 5 15 . Thursday tired and relieved. It a a it a Good. Its late. In a tired a he said As he climbed from the cockpit of his air Force f-4g wild weasel fighter. A there was a lot of ground fire in Baghdad a Walton assigned to the 35th tac fighter Wing said. A a lot of triple a anti aircraft artillery. 1 saw at least one Sam surface to air missile launched but i done to think it was meant for us. Despite the ground fire . Warplanes had Baghdad a lit up like a Christmas tree a he said. Walton was one of the first pilots to return from the Early morning attack on Iraq and Kuwait As the United states and its allies switched from operation desert shield to operation desert storm. Although the Pentagon cautioned against Early optimism pilots and ground Crews said the bombings worked to near perfection. A a in a very very pleased and in a very proud of the Guys a Walton said. A now we have to buckle Down and prepare. Its not Over. We just have to keep the pressure on until the president says a Lav  a a of the Many iraqi aircraft destroyed in thursdays raids one fell victim to an air Force f-15 piloted by capt. Steve Tate 28, of Watersmeet Mich. Tate said he hit what he believed was a French made Mirage Jet with a Sparrow air to air missile at about 3 15 . A when the air plane blew up the whole sky lit up a he said. A it continued to Burn All the Way to the ground and then just blew up into a thousand  Tate assigned to the 1st tac fighter Wing had taken off from a saudi air base at 1 30 . And returned four hours later to cheers from the ground Crew. A i feel Good a he said. A i never experienced this before. Its unfortunate that we be had to go War but i guess Here was no other  v the attack brought a huge collective sigh of Relief from soldiers and citizens in Eastern saudi Arabia. A i was glad it started a said staff sgt. Keith Woody of the 13th Ord co 11th air defense artillery brigade from fort Bliss Texas Saddam a was obviously not going to leave Kuwait by his own Accord. When i first got Over Here four months ago hoped peace talks would work. But after three months i thought what Are we waiting for a a the prevailing feeling among the troops seemed to be that this was one Large step closer to Home. A it can to be Over if it does no to Start a said 1st sgt. George Scanlon also of the 13th Ord co. The Early reports of Success led to widespread optimism among the ground troops Many of whom were awakened before Dawn and told to prepare for possible chemical attacks. A if we re beating him this bad Early into it there ainu to going to be much for us to do a said pvt. Anthony Anderson 23. Of Clearwater Fla., a Soldier with the 82nd airborne div. A a we be been beating our Heads against the Wall waiting. In a Happy we re going in  even though the possibility of War had been evident for weeks word of the attack still was a Shock to Many soldiers. A a it a like someone tells you your mom is dying a said  Franklin 25, of Sandford Fla. A a it a still a Shock when she  soldiers in the 82nd had an inkling something was up late wednesday night. At 10 p.m., they were told to take their nerve agent pre treatment tablets which reduce susceptibility to the chemical Gas. When news of the attack reached their desert outpost their Home since August col. Keith Kellogg said a this is How the big boys  Many civilians living in the Eastern province of saudi Arabia shared the service members Joy Bernard per rett service manager for a computer company remembered the tension in Early August before America responded to iraqis invasion. A we spent a very uncomfortable weekend Here a per rett said. A a in a honestly very relieved that something has started to happen. I totally agree with what the . Service members have been saying its about time a filipino Arthur Siazon was in charge of his firms evacuation plans in a1 Khobiar. A we had a feeling that the critical time was today , said so people were sleeping lightly when the alarm sounded at about 3 . Thursday. Within 15 minutes the 65 employees of the engineering consulting firm had gathered at the business office he said. If it were necessary they would All have evacuated this coastal town for a City farther to the West. Siazon said living under the threat of w a for the past few months has been Tough. A your people have not been Able to do their work properly. They Are scared.�?�. The attack helped eliminate the fear from Many people. A a in a not afraid anymore. See in a not carrying my Gas mask a said Maan a. Al Dau Ghather a saudi banker. A Saddam Hussein asked for it. Its great. We love