Marines in Operation Desert Storm

Marines in the persian gulf

6/16/2017

Chapter 13- Operation Desert Storm -Lonesome Dove

Extracts from Marines in the Persian gulf 1990-1991 barely mentions the construction of the Lonesome Dove Expeditionary Airfield liken to the absence of reporting the highlights of the Tuskegee Airman in World War II. I gather here some other evidence of its existence but the true story of how the field was built is in my book Annapolis Creed.

Extracts from...US Marines in the Persian Gulf

In December 1990, MAG-26 relocated in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and to expeditionary airfield Lonesome Dove to support the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and the 2d Marine Division in the liberation of Kuwait during Operations Desert Shield/Storm. The composite squadron included nine squadrons from MAG-26, MAG-29 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.

Al Khanjar

Engineer Support Battalions (Reinforced) departed Kibrit westbound to begin construction of a huge support base located about 35 kilometers southwest of the corner of the heel of Kuwait. The battalions' many feats of construction over the next 14 days included 38 kilometers of blastwall berm which contained among other things the Marine Corps' largest-ever ammunition supply point, 151 cells in 768 acres, a five-million-gallon fuel farm, and a naval hospital with 14 operating rooms. The complex also included two 5,700-foot dirt airstrips capable of handling C-130 turboprop transports. The area was so remote from any settlement or feature that it had no name or designation on maps except "gravel plain."' General Krulak's staff dubbed the place "Al Khanjar," Arabic for a type of short sword, to the delight of Arab officers attached to the force. By 12 February Al Khanjar was providing combat service support to the divisions.

A few kilometers west of the base was Landing Zone Lonesome Dove, the new home for the helicopters of Marine Aircraft Group 26 and a forward command post for the wing. Because of the distance from 3d Marine Aircraft Wing headquarters at Jubayl, Major General Moore sent his assistant wing commander, Brigadier General Granville R. "Granny" Amos, to Lonesome Dove to set up a helicopter Tactical Air Command Center.

Below is the design of Lonesome Dove designed and orchestrated by Major Jordan B. Smith, Jr. in 1991.

6 Comments

Dr. Jordan B smith jr.

I attended the U. S. Naval Academy from 1972-1976 earning a B.S. in Mathematics. Served 20 years both active and reserve in the US Marines. Veteran of the Desert Shield/Storm. I earned a MAED and Ed D. specializing in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix in 2015. I graduated from CBC High School in Clayton, MO in 1972.

Doug Rathbun

12/30/2020 07:07:08 pm

I was stationed at Lonesome Dove with the Nomads. Thanks for the acknowledgment.

LtCol Edward Burris (ret)

3/26/2021 11:32:14 pm

I was a Captain in G3 on Gen Moore’s Staff in Jubail, later moved to Lonesome Dove with Granny Amos in the HTACC.

USMC uses standard bird names for LZs. Sparrow, Robin ,Blue Jay, Hawk etc. The original designation was simply “Dove”. One of my duties in the G3 was to write and publish the 3rd MAW helicopter flight schedule after approval by LtCol RON Ochse, the deputy G3 (rotary wing side).

Because publishing was sometimes slow, and pilots have crew rest issues, we sometimes had to call to give squadrons heads up of where their medevac package would be going.

As you know, the buildup was busy, but monotonous for pilots. Moving gear, medevac alert, some integrated training with ground forces.

One night, the duty officer at one of the squadrons I was calling was Captain Andrew “Opie” McCoit, a friend from a previous deployment.

I told him, “Your squadron is handling LZ Dove.” Opie, who is a very funny guy groaned and said, “Dove? You mean LONESOME Dove.” I had never been to LZ Dove but was reading the Larry McMurtry book (loved it) so I asked what he meant. He told me it was desolate (at that time) with nothing to do and minimal support.

I don’t know if the joke was original to Opie, but I had never heard it before.

I thought it was very funny in that sardonic Marine way, so on the final flight schedule, I changed the name to “LZ Lonesome Dove”. Another Captain that worked with me (Taylor?) came over and asked if I had seen the change it. I told him I had put it in there. He said “You can’t do that.” I smiled and said, “Sure I can, I write the rotary wing tasking order for every Marine helo in theater.” He laughed and said, “Do you think Ox (LtCol Ochse will approve it?” I smiled and said, “I don’t think he will even notice it.” It was approved for publishing by LtCol Ochse.

I had to herd the clerks a little for a few days to make sure the name stuck. But not only did it stick, everybody liked it, including Granny. Zero push back.

But there were plans for Al Kanjar that we’re above my pay grade because I was running current ops and we were not fully briefed on the op plan for several more weeks.

As you know, Lonesome Dove grew very quickly until it became the primary base for Marine helicopters for the ground war- and as you noted, Granny took a staff with him to man the “A” TACC. (A stood for assistant or auxiliary) As you know, aviators have a rebellious streak. And Marine helicopter pilots take umbrage at being called 2nd stringers by Jet guys.

The captains all agreed and we told the ubiquitous LCPL with a Grease Pencil to relabel it HTACC - We explained to Granny, he smiled and nodded.
(We all loved working for him)

Final note. LtCol Ron Ochse, told us that he had indeed noticed the change from Dove to Lonesome Dove, and smiled as he approved it.

We were wing. And Gen Boomer and the MEF G3 wouldn’t care if Granny backed it.

Edward Burris
LtCol USMC (ret)
7564, 7502, 0302

Richard Solether

7/14/2021 05:24:27 am

Was at Lonesome Dove..Semper Fi!

John Snyder

8/28/2021 02:59:28 pm

The caption on your picture of Lonesome Dove states that CH-53D helicopters operated out of Lonesome Dove. With all due respect sir, I was stationed at Lonesome Dove during Desert Storm as a member of HMH-464. We were, and they still are, a CH-53E "Super Stallion" squadron. The CH-53E was the replacement for the CH-53D and our squadron received the firs fleet delivery of the aircraft in 1981. I also deployed with the CH-53E on its first cruise aboard the USS Iwo Jima in 1983 to Beirut Lebanon. Sadly I was a member of the recovery team that recovered bodies from the October 23rd bombing of the Marine barrack. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding about which aircraft were stationed at Lonesome Dove during the 1991 conflict. Thank you for your wonderful writing. Take care, God bless, and as always, Semper Fidelis - John M. Snyder, GySgt. USMC Retired

David A. Wiles CWO3 USMC Retired

3/26/2023 04:56:01 pm

The arrogance of a Marine Aviator never ceases to amaze me. The complete lack of understanding logistics as if things just magically appear without regards the the back breaking sweat bore by Marines that make things happen for Marine Aviation. “Lonesome” Dove, was constructed by the Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 273. More than 862,000 sqft of AM-2 Matting was used to build the Expeditionary Airfield. The 12 ft sheets of the Matting weigh 144lbs. Each sheet is placed and connect by Marines not machines. It’s back breaking work and it took 15 days to build. To put this “LZ” in to perspective, 862,000 AM-2 is enough to build a 12 ft wide road 13.5 miles long. Not quite an LZ and to call it that is and insult to those Marines efforts, not to mention after the ground war was over that “LZ”, had to be picked up and packed for the next war.

Perhaps the 7th function of Marine Aviation should be Aviation Logistics.

David A.Wiles, CWO3 USMC Retired
Former Expeditionary Airfield Officer, MWSS-273
Former MAWTS-1 Instructor

paul francis pavilonis

7/23/2023 06:26:18 pm

i was there building lonesome dove with mwss 273 from mcas Beaufort SC

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Marines in the persian gulf

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Dr. Jordan B smith jr.

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