Memorial service set for local unit killed in Gulf War

The 13 members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment died in Saudi Arabia in 1991.

By JOE NAPSHA
TribLive

A memorial service is planned this morning at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Hempfield in memory of the 13 members of the U.S. Army Reserve 14th Quartermaster Detachment killed 35 years ago in the Gulf War.

An Iraqi Scud missile hit the barracks of the water purification unit on Feb. 25, 1991, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

The service will be held at 11 a.m. at the Reserve Center in the Carbon section of Hempfield.

Army Col. James E. Proctor will be the keynote speaker for event. A portion of the service will be held at the memorial outside the Army Reserve Center and inside the center, because of expected inclement weather, said Army Major Damien A. Riggins.

The water purification unit, with members from Westmoreland and Indiana counties, had been in Saudi Arabia only six days when the missile hit their barracks, which was a converted warehouse. In all, 28 soldiers were killed, including Spc. Anthony Eric Madison Sr., 27, of Monessen, and 99 were wounded in the attack.

The 14th Quartermaster Detachment suffered the greatest number of casualties of any allied unit during Operation Desert Storm.

There will be 12-gun salute and the playing of taps, Riggins said.