#FlashbackFriday: Operation Desert Storm Comes to a Close, and the Exchange is There

During the final days of February 1991—31 years ago—Operation Desert Storm reached its climax, as a 28-nation coalition liberated Kuwait, which had been invaded by Iraq in August 1990. From the time that Operation Desert Shield began shortly after the invasion, later evolving into Desert Storm, the Exchange was in Southwest Asia to support U.S. troops.

The Exchange’s first store in Kuwait for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. The Exchange still operates in the country.

Before Desert Shield began, the Exchange’s Southwest Asia operations consisted of a main store, two smaller stores and a mobile exchange, all in Saudi Arabia. Shortly after Desert Shield started, a distribution center was quickly built, practically from scratch, in Saudi Arabia to support Exchange operations in the Middle East.

By January 1991, the Exchange had 17 direct-operated retail stores; 152 troop-run facilities; more than two dozen food; and 11 barbershops in the region. Nearly 350 associates volunteered to serve those who served in the region.

After hostilities ceased at the end of February 1991, associates began to return to the States, but some stayed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to support 3,000 remaining troops. As troops returned to the U.S., the Saudi Distribution Center had a surplus of inventory. Some merchandise, including Pringles potato chips and Charmin toilet paper, was sold to the Kuwaiti government at Kuwait’s request.

Today, the Exchange operates in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Sources: One Hundred Years of Service: A History of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service; Exchange Post archives; Exchange history Flickr.