FLAGS, FLAGS, FLAGS, FLAGS
Most Veterans Organizations have flags of some type, be it the colors, ensign, branch of service, organizations and/or state. Some place in the meeting area of said organization you will find a flag or flags. The flag in this story is unique to American Legion Post 316 as you will see.
From: Commanding Officer, USS MCINERNEY (FFG-8)
To: American Legion Post 316, Mayport Fl
Subj: Desert Storm National Ensign
It is with great pleasure that the crew of the USS MCINERNEY (FFG-8)
presents American Legion Post 316 a National Ensign which flew from the main mast while
MCINERENY participated in support of Operations Desert Shied and Desert Storm for the
liberation of Kuwait. Departing Mayport Florida on 11 January 1991, MCINERENY was ordered
to protect carrier forces conducting air strikes from the Red Sea and later in the Arabian
Gulf. On 17 February MCINERENY rendezvoused with USS Wisconsin and escorted the giant
battle wagon through mined waters to within miles of the coast of occupied Kuwait;
providing anti-air ,anti-surface and mine countermeasure protection while Wisconsin
conducted naval Gunfire Support with her 16-inch guns. As the battleship and B-52 bombers
struck the enemy ashore, MCINERNEY searched the sea lanes along with her embarked LAMPS 111
helicopter, locating and destroying five Iraqi mines. Following the cease fire, MCINERNEY
continued to play a vital role in Persian Gulf operations. Missions ranged from Search and
Rescue operations for American MIAS, to the escort of merchant ships transporting
Humanitarian Relief supplies to war ravaged Kuwait City through mine swept channels.
MCINERNEY departed the Arabian Gulf for the Red Sea on 2 June to support the United Nations
Embargo against Iraq, finally returning to Mayport Florida on 3 July 1991.
C.E.Hill
