Master Sergeant Bean recounts his experiences during the first Gulf war as an artillery specialist in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Success of any war, conflict, or operations Soldiers must meet the enemy, defeat the enemy on the battlefield, and return home safely. Defending our nation during the Gulf War was the high point of my career. This accomplishment serves as a key to my successful military career. Writing this personal experience brought memories good and bad. Although we won the war aboard, a battle was lost in my family. The psychological toll of war deeply affected my family. My personal experience paper will highlight psychological factors I overcame during preparation for combat, combat operations and the psychological effects on my family.