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                  AN£CDOTE F~O~ ~UWAIT CITY OBSERVATIONS

    Initial impression of the city was quite shocking. Of course,               we
 had all heard the news reports of the intense lootin~ and
* destruction~ however, it hit closer to home actually seeinq the
 devastation instilled by the six month long occupation by the Iraqi
 inilitary.   The once beautiful buildings and monuments were stripped
 and either severely damaged or completely destroyed.             BeacheJ£ were
 torn up by extensive trenching and continuous layers of anti-
 pers~nnel mines which obviously ta0c'e some time to restore back to
 their original state.
    ~y first encounters with some of the Xuwaiti people proved to
 change the lifeless and deserted city into a city of new hope and
 prospects of a new beginning.   Children carrying bags of candy were
 running through the city throwing candy and occasional ~isses to any
 service member walking by.   T~eir mothers were standing behind them
 smiling and speaking words of thanks and gratitude.             It seemed to
 make the prior six months well worth the sweating and some of the
 frustrations we had all experienced.
    The overall setting was similar to the 4th of July with all the
 small arms fire into the air and the intense happiness and pride in
 their national colors.    Bumper to bumper cars on the roadways were
 continuously honking horns and shouting phrases like *We love you
 President Bush" anA 0God bless the U.S.            towards the servicemen or,.
 the sidewalks.   The exuberant and estatic people seemed to override
 the depressions of their now severely war~orn city.              Within the
 first few days, people were already observed picking up trash off
 the streets and clearing the many obstructions on the roa~'~a'js.
 Again, obviously as a direct result of their happiness and pr~de jr:
 not only their country, but the coalition nation--.            The oratitud-~
 towards the servicemen was immeasurable and will never be forgotten
 by the tiarines and Soldiers who were able to meet with the
 previously exiled Kuwaiti's.   They will never by forgotten.

            Subrn~tted by Cpl J. ~. Gerber, F.Q ~d~A~ R~~t 5-2

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