Operation Desert Shield: Governor Mickelson’s “Line in the Sand”

by Duke Doering

      Governor George Mickelson and the Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Harold Sykora held a joint press conference in Pierre, SD on August 24, 1990.  The purpose was to announce that the 57th Transportation Detachment, the 155th Engineer Detachment and the 747th Transportation Detachment had been placed on alert status.

     This alert was in response to the 41st Presidents, George H. W. Bush, famous “line in the sand” declaration committing U.S. forces to defend Saudi Arabia and warning Iraq leader Saddam Hussein of possible war.  On August 22 Bush had made it official when he ordered a call-up of reserve forces under the provisions under Section 673b of Title 10 the U.S. Code.

     It became the first Federal mobilization of South Dakota National Guard troops since the Berlin Crisis in 1961.  Bush declared that the citizen soldier was “essential to completing our mission” of opposing Iraq’s Saddam Hussein in the Middle East.

    On August 27 the 57th Transportation Detachment was informed to report for federal duty.  The 15-member unit had only a day to get all personal affairs in order.  Governor Mickelson met with the soldiers and their families at farewell ceremony prior to their departure.  He reflected back to the days just prior to his leaving for Vietnam in 1967. “Having sat 23 years ago where you sit now, I know you are feeling a whole gamut of emotions.  Certainly, there is apprehension about being here and not knowing what lies ahead,” he said.