Locator: 49379USAF.
Operation Provide Comfort: wiki.
Operation Provide Comfort took place from April 6, 1991, to July 24, 1991, and was followed by a second, longer-term phase, Operation Provide Comfort II, which lasted until December 31, 1996. The first phase was a humanitarian relief effort in response to the crisis of Kurdish refugees fleeing northern Iraq.
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Personal Notes -- Diary
My brief chronology in my diary; more extensive notes in multiple diaries and journals:
1989 - 1993
- Bitburg AB, Germany; we lived in very nice house in Oberweis, about 30 minutes from Bitburg AB
- Chief, Medical Staff (SGH) at the Bitburg Hospital; during my last year the base was in process of closing; it affected me quite a bit emotionally
1993 - 1994
- Rhein-Main AB, Germany
- My first command; clinic commander of 435th Medical Squadron;
- my boss was Major General (2-star) Don Loranger (he subsequently lost a star, upon retirement)
1994 - 1996
- Incirlik AB, Turkey
- my second command; hospital commander, 39th Medical Group; my boss was Brigadier General select John Barry; eventually to two stars; retired before making 3rd star -- probably a personal choice; his wife Ellen (“K.C.”) -- perhaps May’s closest friend
- movies:
- Desperado, Robert Rodriguez (writer, director), Selma Hayek, Antonio Banderas
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Operation Provide Comfort
During my times commander at the Incirlik Air Base, I also served as a USAF flight surgeon and flew regularly over Iraq, combat missions, in support of Operation Provide Comfort.
This was sewn into the lining of our flight jacket:
The British aircrew were given gold coins to carry with them for the same purpose.
