Greenville Reservists Recall Gulf War Service
Retired Staff Sgt. Willie A. Baker Jr. reflects on the 398th Supply Company's deployment during Operation Desert Storm ahead of Veterans Day.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Military
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Retired Staff Sgt. Willie A. Baker Jr. recalled his service with the 398th Supply Company, an Army Reserve unit based in Greenville, during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The unit helped get military equipment and supplies to troops during the Gulf War.
Why it matters
The account offers a firsthand look at how Army Reserve supply units supported the Gulf War effort, a deployment that kept many local soldiers away from home longer than any previous mission. Stories like this one give Greenville residents context on the city's military history as Veterans Day approaches.
The 398th Supply Company, based in Greenville, deployed with about 195 soldiers and was gone for months, longer than any prior deployment of its troops. The stub does not give exact departure or return dates.
The players
Willie A. Baker Jr.
Retired Staff Sgt. Willie A. Baker Jr. served 27 years in the military, and his father also served in World War II.
398th Supply Company
The 398th Supply Company is an Army Reserve unit based in Greenville that supported troops during the Gulf War.
The details
The unit trained at Fort Bragg to prepare for desert heat and the possibility of chemical warfare before deploying to the Middle East. The 398th later received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its Gulf War service.
Timeline
Operation Desert Storm took place in 1990-1991, when the 398th Supply Company deployed to the Gulf War.
The article was published on November 9, 2026, ahead of Veterans Day.
Historical Context
The 398th's service falls within Operation Desert Storm, the 1991 U.S.-led coalition campaign that pushed Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. Reserve supply units like this one were central to sustaining that rapid deployment.
Veterans and their families in Greenville can use stories like this to understand local service history as Veterans Day approaches. The account offers a reminder of the sacrifices reserve soldiers made during long overseas deployments.
The takeaway
Recognizing the service of reserve units like the 398th Supply Company helps readers appreciate how local communities contribute to national defense. Veterans' stories preserve historical details that official records alone may not capture.
Further reading
Explore more military news coverage from across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Witn.
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