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Kuwait celebrates 50/20 anniversary with coalition forces, parade

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Kuwait celebrated their 20th year of liberation from Saddam Hussein's invading forces and 50th year of independence from Great Britain with several coalition countries, including the U.S., by staging a very large military parade, Feb. 26.

In 1991, 33 nations joined the U.S. to form a coalition during the Kuwaiti's time of need after a seven-month long invasion, and drove the Iraqi forces out of their country within just 100 hours of combat in February of that year.

U.S. Central Command and its components helped commemorate Kuwait's 50/20 celebration. The Third U.S. Army Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army Central led the effort with support from the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force service components.

Some of the world's leaders and top dignitaries participated in the celebration. Among them was Lt. Gen. Michael Hostage III, commander of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command in Southwest Asia.

General Hostage, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, flew 33 missions as a lieutenant colonel in an F-15 Eagle over Kuwait during the war which sent the invading Iraqis fleeing from Kuwait City.

"Twenty years seems like a million years ago, and yet it seems like just yesterday," he said. "I'm very proud of our Middle East friends and how far we've all come. Our partnership and our relationships are stronger than ever, and I think it's the lynchpin of what will mean security and stability in the Middle East for a very long time."

Kuwait is a longstanding friend and major non-NATO ally of the U.S. The U.S. and Kuwait have shared interests based not only on ensuring regional peace and security, but also in pursuing regional prosperity, including in the fields of education, health, trade and the development of Kuwait's economy. Kuwait is also one of the world's richest countries and is classified by the World Bank as a high-income economy.

Numerous aircraft flew over the parade grounds to kick off the two-hour long parade, which included tanks, rocket launchers, multi-barrelled guns, and military formations of servicemembers from countries, such as Kuwait, U.S., U.K., France, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Qatar.

Within the U.S. formation were 117 Soldiers from the Third U.S. Army Infantry Regiment, 23 Soldiers from U.S. Forces-Iraq, 25 Marines and 7 servicemembers from U.S. CENTCOM.

One Airman, who was the only Airman to represent the U.S. Air Force within the joint services formation, participated in the celebration as part of U.S. CENTCOM's Color Guard.

Staff Sgt. John Nelson, an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance collections manager, from Brainerd, Minn., is stationed at U.S. CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Fla.

"This is a really cool thing to be a part of," he said. "It's a great opportunity to be a part of this celebration in which we helped to liberate the Kuwaitis from the invasion, and it's also great to see all the other countries and their militaries here."

Sergeant Nelson has served seven years in the U.S. Air Force, and this special occasion was his first ticket to visit an overseas location.

Another Airman, from the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, spent the first few hours before the event exploring the parade grounds, meeting with servicemembers from various countries, and checking out their tactical vehicles and aircraft.

"I told them to meet everybody they possibly can," said Master Sgt. Reggie Felty of two of his communications Airmen, one of which was Senior Airman Antonio Tirado.

Airman Tirado seemed to have followed in both of his parents' footsteps as a military communications specialist.

"Both of my parents were in Desert Storm," he said. "They were also (communications specialists) in the Navy."

For this event, Airman Tirado and several other teammembers provided communications to ensure communication from the mobile air traffic control tower to the aircraft flowed smoothly.

The Ocala, Calif., native said, "We're having an amazing time meeting people from other countries, such as Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. Everyone's so nice out here, and their hospitality is amazing. I'm honored to be a part of this celebration and to represent the U.S. Air Force and my unit."

The Kuwaitis provided the mobile air traffic control tower to the U.S. AFCENT servicemembers.

Approximately 85 aircraft were flown by U.S., French, Omani, Saudi, Italian, Kuwaiti and Qatari pilots, said Maj. Jesus Semintal, a U.S. AFCENT Air Force Forces Airfield Operations manager and the Air Traffic Control leader for the event. The U.S. Air Force flew several aircraft, such as a C-130 and F-15s, during the air show.

Our job was to put all that metal in a well-confined air space and make sure it all ran smoothly, he said.

Major Semintal is stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and although he was not directly involved in Operation Desert Storm, Major Semintal said he was stationed at the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field in Arizona in 1991.

"It's good to be here to celebrate with the Kuwaitis," he said. "It makes me proud of what we do. We're a large reason why this is going on."

Major Semintal's air traffic control team included Squadron Leader Mark Brindell, Capt. Joshua Ord, Capt. Edward Bunce, Master Sgt. Chris Yevchack, and Master Sgt. Deshaun Johnson.

Kuwaiti bandsmen from the country's army, national guard and police department lined the streets in front of two tall man-made grassy hills with the words "History does not make heroes... yet heroes make history" written in white stones in both English and Arabic for all to see.

Across the street from them, thousands of people gathered, thousands of Kuwaiti flags waved, and all celebrated by donning the colors of their country's flag - green, black, red and white, which represented fertility, defeat of enemies, the blood of defeated enemies and honor and purity, respectively.

This large festive audience was a change from the series of protests that had been occurring throughout various countries within the region.

Editor's note: For more photos of Kuwait's 50/20 Celebration, visit "U.S. Air Forces Central" on Facebook.