Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Pants |
Common Name |
uniform, military |
Catalog Number |
1992.05.02 |
Maker |
Winfield MFG. Co., Inc. |
Date |
1990-1991 |
Material(s) |
Cotton/Nylon |
Dimensions |
H-42 W-19 inches |
Description |
This is a pair of dessert combat uniform pants. They have a four-color cmaoflague pattern. The pants have pockets on the sides, hips, and back. There are ties at the ankles. |
Notes |
This uniform belonged to E-4 Kelly Withers, who was born and reared in Frankfort, Kentucky. Items in this collection were either used or given to him while serving in the United States Army during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Withers served on search and rescue missions for downed Allied pilots during his service and in the War. This combat uniform was the one Withers was wearing on February 24, 1991. During a search and rescue mission for a downed United States F-16 pilot, the Blackhawk in which Withers and his crew were flying in was inside enemy territory. The Blackhawk was hit with small arms fire in the engine, and the Blackhawk helicopter crashed landed. The accompanying Apache helicopters did not leave them but defended them until a medivac helicopter came to rescue them an hour and a half later. It took them another hour and a half to get them all out of the wreckage. The F-16 pilot died as did three members of the crew of seven in Withers' helicopter. With two crushed vertebrae, Withers spent the next three weeks in the hospital in Bahrain and the U.S.S. Comfort. |
Collection |
Kelly Withers Collection |
People |
Winfield MFG. Co., Inc. Withers, Kelly |
Subjects |
Pants Uniform Military uniforms Camouflage (Military science) |
Search Terms |
Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Desert Shield Desert Storm Gulf War Persian Gulf War, 1991 |
Physical Holder |
Kentucky Historical Society - KHS |