The Spirt of the Storm

The Gathering of Eagles (GOE) is a program dedicated to the study of Airpower history by providing first-hand accounts of historic events from air and space pioneers. The first official GOE program took place in 1982; since that first event, over 450 distinguished Airpower pioneers have inspired leaders with their stories of courage, perseverance, and innovation. This book commemorates the 36th annual GOE program by providing the first-ever published collection of interviews from the selected Eagles. The 2017 Eagles include: General Charles A. "Chuck" Horner, Colonel John A. Warden III, General Walter Kross, Major General Paul "PJ" Johnson, Chief Warrant Officer Guy Hunter, Jr., Colonel Thomas E. Griffith, Major General Greg "Beast" Feest, and Brigadier Gneral Rhonda L. Cornum. This collection of interviews focuses on Operation DESERT STORM and seeks to capture the human spirit behind the Operation, with a specific emphasis on leadership. It includes the experiences that shaped the Eagles leading up to Desert Storm, their personal tragedies, triumphs during the operation, and the impact of this time on their personal and professional lives.