Rhein-Main Air Force Base: A Strategic Base That Provided Continuous Support For Desert Shield and Desert Storm

Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm were a great success because all services and the coalition worked together jointly to achieve victory. Many combat service support units worked day and night to contribute to this victory. Some were recognized and some were not. This is a story of how Rhein-Main Air Force base and 21st Replacement Battalion, both located in Frankfurt, Germany, supported the war effort. The period covered is from August 1990 through April 1991. The story describes Rhein-Main Air Force Base and 21st Replacement Battalions peacetime missions and how those missions expanded and surged to support Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Major support efforts covered are Food Service Operations, Billeting Operations, Morale and Recreation, Aerial Port Operations, European Desert Express, Medica Support Operations, Political Demonstrations, Aeromedical Staging Facility, Patriot Missile Move, and Individual Ready Reserves. All of these support efforts were executed superbly because we all worked together jointly and were not concerned about which service was going to get the credit. The common thread throughout the story is doing whatever it takes to accomplish the mission, regardless of difficulty, and providing for out most precious resource, the troops.