They once led the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and this weekend had an opportunity to reflect back with their comrades in the Division. Lt. Gen. Ret. Thomas Rhame and Lt. Gen. Ret. Ronald Watts were among those in attendance for the 1st Infantry Division Officers Dinner that was held in Junction City.
Rhame served as commanding general during Desert Storm. This past weekend in conjunction with the local activities, approximately 40 officers gathered that served with the Big Red One when they left Fort Riley in December of 1990 for Desert Storm. At the time there was apprehension about possible casualties. "The intelligence estimates put our casualties pretty high because we had the mission of making the initial breach in the Iraqi defensive line. " Rhame added once they arrived in theater and were moved to an area where they could do reconnaissance and with overhead imagery they found out what they faced. The enemy didn't appear to be as strong as projected when the Division left Fort Riley. The end result after a 100-hour ground campaign was the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi forces.
Watts is currently the President of the Society of the 1st Infantry Division. During his career he spent four tours at Fort Riley including command of the Division from 1984 to 1986. "The Officers Dinner goes all the way back to World War One when the officers came back from World War One they said we will meet the last Saturday night of April every year. " They honored fallen comrades, and exchanged friendships and stories.
Watts remembered his time at Fort Riley. "First of all from a community standpoint the places I've been in the Army I've never seen any place better than Fort Riley is as far as community relations, and the way people support the military.
The Officers Dinner is held every year.