ANTHOLOGY AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY                                    237


14 March--Five Marines and two Navy prisoners of war, who returned to the
U.S. four days earlier, participated in a press conference at the Bethesda Naval
Hospital. Appearing sharp and confident, they fielded numerous questions from
the press on the details of their capture and experiences as prisoners.

16 March--The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Alfred M. Gray,
presented the Prisoner of War Medal to the five Marine POWs from the Persian
Gulf.  The ceremony took place at the Bethesda Naval Hospital.

6 April--President George Bush signed into law a Persian Gulf      personnel
benefits bill that increased imminent-danger pay, family separation allowance,
group life insurance coverage, education assistance, child care, and family
education and support services.    The Persian Gulf Conflict Supplemental
Authorization and Personnel Benefits Act of 1991 authorized $15 billion for
Persian Gulf operations, $400 million for benefits for service members, and
$225 million for veterans' assistance.

15-18  April--Thousands of sailors and  Marines were welcomed      home by
cheering crowds as they returned to their homeports from deployment to the
Persian Gulf.  Included were more than 7,500 Marines of the 4th Marine
Expeditionary Brigade who arrived at Morehead City, North Carolina, and
Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit who arrived at Camp Pendleton,
California.

24 April--Five Marines who performed heroic acts in the Persian Gulf received
Silver  Star medals in  ceremonies  held  at   Camp  Pendleton,   California.
Lieutenant General Walter E. Boomer, Commanding General of the I Marine
Expeditionary Force, presented the medals to:  Staff Sergeant Daniel A. Kur,
Sergeant Gordon T. Gregory, and Corporals Bryan R. Freeman, Michael S.
Kilpatrick, and Bryan K. Zickefoose.

24 April--The I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) was welcomed home from
Operation Desert Storm during ceremonies at Camp Pendleton, California.  At
the same time V MEF, activated in January to assume the missions and tasks
assigned to the deployed I MEF, deactivated.

8 June--Operation Welcome Home paid tribute to every service member who
went to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert
Storm.  Some 1,800 Marines with 14 pieces of major equipment and 19 aircraft
participated in the Desert Storm National Victory Parade in Washington, D.C.
that was led by General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Commander of the U.S.
Central Command and Desert Storm forces.        Marines from the I Marine
Expeditionary Force and all its major subordinate commands marched in the
parade reviewed by the Commander in Chief, President George Bush.        In
addition to the parade, Marines manned over 30 pieces of equipment on display