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3rd ACR assists in Kuwait celebration

By Staff Sgt. Mark AlbrightMarch 2, 2011

3rd ACR assists in Kuwait celebration
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment stand pose for a photo before the beginning of the 50-20 celebration. The Soldiers were in Kuwait participated in the parade marking the independence from Great Britain and the Desert Storm victory. Phot... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
3rd ACR assists in Kuwait celebration
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Rivera, a native of Killeen, Texas, maneuvers a M1A2 Abrams Tank before the beginning of the 50-20 celebration. The 3rd ACR crews were in Kuwait participated in the parade marking the independence from Great Britain and the Desert... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
3rd ACR assists in Kuwait celebration
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment stand in a formation before the beginning of the 50-20 celebration. The Soldiers were in Kuwait participated in the parade marking the independence from Great Britain and the Desert Storm victory. Photo ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait - Thousands of Kuwaitis celebrated Kuwait's independence Saturday Feb. 26. The country held a military parade outside Kuwait City marking the 50 year anniversary of its independence from Great Britain and the 20 year celebration of the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq after Operation Desert Storm.

Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment had the honor of driving the lead Tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles in the parade. The regiment was one of the initial units in Desert Storm and is currently serving in southern Iraq in Operation New Dawn to help close out the military mission there.

"This is a great honor. It's something that represents the United States, what we have done in the past and what we can do in the future. Hopefully, it can go the same way in Iraq in time, and in 20 years we do the same for Iraq," Spc. David Arnett, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, a Tulsa, Okla., native.

Operation Desert Storm started Jan. 17, 1991, after the refusal of Iraq to withdraw from its invasion of Kuwait. It culminated in a 32 country coalition that fought to return Kuwaiti independence and push Iraq out of the country.

"This is really cool, being able to experience everyone participating, the French, English and Kuwaitis," said Pfc. Adam Harmon, 1st Squadron, C Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and a Columbus, Ohio, Native.

"I think this is great. I actually came to Desert Storm, and I think being in this parade allows me to see the celebration of the end of it and what we did," Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Rivera, a Native of Killeen, Texas.

The 3rd ACR was one of the initial units in Kuwait to free its people.

The Soldiers chosen to lead the parade were from the three combat squadrons of the 3rd ACR, 1st (Tiger), 2nd (Sabre) and 3rd (Thunder) Squadrons. These Soldiers manned M1A2 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

"We have 23 people representing the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which in essence is representing the United States Forces- Iraq," said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Snead, a native of Falls Church, Va. "I think it's an honor to represent the 3rd ACR and USF-I. Something like this doesn't come around very often, and I think we all are honored to participate."

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