We have been following Marland Burckhardt, a Russell High School graduate who married his Russell sweetheart in college and began an Army career focused on Military Intelligence operations. He served in Vietnam in 1970 and then he and Barb had assignments across the United States.

Marland reported to his new assignment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as the XVIII Airborne Corps Intelligence Chief in August 1990 as the Corps was deploying to Saudi Arabia after Iraq invaded Kuwait.

“When I got to Fort Bragg and went to my G-2 section, I had people sitting in hallways with their weapons and deployment equipment getting ready to board airplanes to Saudi. I got Barbara into a house on Fort Bragg and deployed in September.”

He outlined the mission of the XVIII Airborne Corps and his mission as the Corps Intelligence Chief.

“The XVIII Airborne Corps is the quick reaction Corps and is commanded by a three-star (general) to whom the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the 10th Mountain Division commanders report. As the Corps G-2, you are responsible for the intelligence needed by the Corps and its division G-2s.”

Marland described the Corps deployment to Saudia Arabia.

“The 82nd Airborne went in right away (flying from Pope Air Force Base near Fort Bragg) and then the 24th (a Mechanized Infantry Division), a heavy division, went on boats from East Coast ports. Rolling stock like trucks, tanks, and artillery mostly went on boats. We had the 24th Division and the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions. We also had a French armored division with us when we went to war.”

Marland deployed aboard a C-141 transport loaded with equipment and a platoon of soldiers.

“I flew into a big, Saudi Air Force Base. My driver took me to the Corps headquarters on the eastern side of Saudi Arabia. When the VII Corps moved in from Europe, they took our positions in the east and we moved farther into the desert west of Kuwait. We moved the entire Corps from the eastern seaboard of Saudi Arabia. It was quite a logistical endeavor.”

He described his mission in support of the Corps plans against the Iraqi forces in Kuwait and Iraq.

“You (needed) intelligence on where the enemy was and their capabilities. Most of that information came from national sources; photography and signals intelligence. (Marland chuckled) There was little we didn’t know about the Iraqi forces’ location. We ran shifts 24-hours a day with a 100-person unit of intelligence analysts and image interpreters and updated the intelligence daily.”

Marland recalled some sobering experiences before combat operations began.

“I went to visit the 24th Division (in the desert). We drove and drove and drove. Finally, we got to their location, but if I hadn’t known where it was, I’d have never found it. The desert was so huge and there are few landmarks. Thank God for GPS! Just before the ground war began our staff flew by helicopter to the VII Corps headquarters. We flew over the units in their assembly positions. To see all of that armament lined up for miles and ready to go was awe inspiring”

The U.S. and allied forces began their air offensive on Jan. 16, 1991. The Iraqi military responded by firing Scud ballistic missiles into Suadi Arabia. Marland experienced such attacks.

“I remember sitting in Rafah, where we were initially headquartered. When Iraq fired their missile, we got less than ten minutes notice. We were like, ‘Should we watch it come in on CNN or should we go outside and watch it?’ I saw a break-up of the Scud. They generally landed harmlessly out in the desert someplace.”

The coalition forces offensive into Kuwait and Iraq began on February 24 and succeeded because combat commanders had intelligence about where the Iraqi forces were located and in what strength.

The warring parties agreed on a ceasefire on Feb. 28. Ten days later U.S. troops began redeploying from Saudi Arabia. Marland returned in late March.

“We landed at Pope Air Force Base; got off the airplane; assembled in formation; and marched forward and saluted the flag. The troops were dismissed and our families were there. My wife, Barbara, was there because she knew I was coming in.”

Marland served two more years as XVIII Airborne Corps G-2 before his final assignment at the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

“It was more to our liking with four seasons, like what we grew up with in Minnesota. I landed in the Department of Command, Leadership, and Management. We worked with students on strategic leadership; national interests; how the Pentagon works; and (classic military theorists).”

Marland retired in 1997 after serving 30 years. He returned to the War College as a civilian instructor for another 16 years. He enjoyed his years with War College students.

“You are working with students from all branches of service; from foreign countries; and from civilian organizations of the government. It was very satisfying to be of service in that way.”

He explained how he and Barb maintained their connections with southwest Minnesota.

“We stayed in touch with family and friends and went back for big events. As we criss-crossed the United States, going from assignment to assignment, we always spent a couple weeks in the Russell area. There were letters and telephone calls back and forth. One of the things that tugged at my heartstrings was when my daughter said, ‘Thank you for giving us Russell.'”

Thank you for your Vietnam service, Marland, and for the many years beyond that you and Barb served our nation

©2025 William D. Palmer.