An Army Reserve NCO Manning The Rear Area Operations Center During Desert Storm

Doug Batson grew up in Virginia, but spent 13 years of his life in Germany, where he became fluent in German and Turkish. His grandfather made a career in the Navy, serving during World War II and the Korean War. His father was in the Navy Reserve, but worked for the telephone and telegraph company, and his mother was a homemaker. Doug enlisted in the Army in July 1978, and completed Basic Training as a 19D Cavalry Scout at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was then assigned to Ft. Hood, Texas, where he served with 2-1 Cavalry in 2nd Armored Division, equipped with the M60A1 tank. He then served in Bavaria with 1st Armored Division as a scout. By the time he made Sergeant, he was working in the Battalion S3 Shop as a Training NCO. He then transitioned to the Army Reserve in Europe and was assigned to the 7th ARCOM (Army Reserve Command) in 1987, working in their Rear Area Operation Center. Often his annual training coincided with REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany). For his civilian job, he worked as an Army Education Counselor, and he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the process. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Doug was on vacation with his German wife and their three children. He remembers being notified that he was going to deploy to the Saudi desert with the 1st Armored Division Rear Area Operations Center, and preparing to deploy by qualifying with his weapon and preparing to ship vehicles. He describes escorting logistics convoys as they prepared to deploy. Once his unit arrived in the desert, they began preparing for combat operations, and Doug describes his role as part of Operation Desert Storm. He concludes by talking about changes that made the National Guard and Army Reserve more integrated. He also reflects on his service to the nation, stating “public service is my forte.”