I just have a few moments between writing my essay and my next break…I thought it would be cool just to reflect on what happened on the 26th of February 1991…as my family and I were in Kuwait during the Gulf War. For pictures log onto http://www.evidence.org.kw/ for pictures just like the one above.
Liberation Day
Weeks before the CNN news cast that echoed in our living room had said that the coalition forces were banding together to defeat the Iraqi army. The weeks that followed were intense- we were constantly running back and forth to our neighbour’s shelter amidst the war sirens as jets flew past our roofs, the bombings were fastly becoming frequent.The night sky would light up in green and red dotted lines crisscrossing over the houses, sometimes catching the odd explosion or two which amplified the battles for a few hours… by then I had gotten used to it and learnt to sleep through til the next morning as my parents kept watch. By morning if the electricity was on, we would catch up with CNN on the radio and check in with neighbours to see whether it was safe to venture out for food…
Rumors had been flying about the neighbourhood that week, “The Americans are going to try to end the war on Kuwaiti National Day (25th of February), we need to stalk up on supplies and take shelter”
The offensive was vicious, down in the shelter the walls would shake and the glass surprisingly was kept together as it violently wobbled with every explosion. This went on for days, for a 6 year old it was mostly boring as you would wait for hours on end – not being allowed to play outside but then terrified once things started up again.
On the 25th we waited by the radio, CNN had reported that the battle at the border went on for hours on end, but with no definitive end in sight. The aftermath was horrific and can be seen on what is now infamously known as the Highway of Death.
I remember one of a few comments passed around the shelter that night,” They are always late!” – later in 8th grade WW1/2 History class, it would dawn upon me that Americans were known for being late to get things like liberate a country on time. Personally, I’m glad they did because… A) They were the only ones who could …and .. B) They did.
The gray morning sky lit up with the radio broadcast that Kuwait was liberated. As the news spread, you could hear cars on the street honking, people cheering and clapping on their way to the highway to join the other unknown citizens in celebration. My dad was reserved about going out so soon, but, we eventually made it out to the Jabriya roundabout (next to Hadi Hospital) and there were streams of green, red and white all over with Kuwaiti flags flying high. There I met my neighbours and my school’s chairman to find out that my beloved NES was trashed and used as a battle ground, then as a hospital for the wounded.
It didn’t feel real, you just don’t wake up from being in War to not.. but that’s what happened.
It would be months before things were up and running, before regular water and electricity would be stable, before school, before my sister would leave to resume her studies, before realising that I wasn’t the same person before it all began.
It is weird to think that in a very tiny way I lived that part of history, that many people born there after may glaze over today not really knowing much about it, whilst others think about the families and friends they lost to the war and didn’t see Liberation happen..makes you appreciate who you have still around you.
Happy Liberation Day.
