This article is from the September 19, 1990, Cedar Lake Journal, page 9:
Family Heads South For Son's Send-Off
PFC E-3 Robert Burger, a member of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Unit out of Ft. Campbell, Ky., was deployed to Saudi Arabia on Sept. 8 as part of the government's Desert Shield Operation in the Gulf region.
Burger, who began his training in July, 1989, is an ammunition specialist as well as being qualified and trained in specialized areas.
A 1987 graduate of Lowell High School, he is married to the former Cassandra Smith, who will be returning to Lowell from Kentucky while her husband is out of the country.
His parents, Robert and Martha Burger of Lowell, packed hurriedly once they got the word and arrived at Ft. Campbell just in time to see their son before he departed. Also making the trip, but from another direction, was Robert's brother, Bart Burger, who resides in Georgia.
According to Burger's parents, as they drove south the visible support for the U.S. forces became more and more evident. "Red, white and blue ribbons streamed from car antena and mailboxes; buisnesses displayed signs offering prayers and support. Yellow ribbons, too, are visible on homes, mailboxes and flags are everywhere. People are also wearing ribbons on their lapels, reported Martha Burger.
PFC Burger had also told his parents of the support his unit received two weeks earlier when they traveled to Florida as part of a huge convoy. As the military vehicles drove south, irregardless of the hour of day or night, there were people standing on over passes, alongside roads and in the streets displaying U.S. flags, waving and offering support. When the convoy stopped for any reason, he said, people were instantly there offering cold lemonade, sandwiches and their support. "He was quite moved by it all," Martha Burger added.
Burger's parents have flown the U.S. flag since the day they learned their son was headed to Saudi Arabia. They have now added the 101st Airborne flag to their flagpole as well as red, white and blue ribbons to show their support. "We are hoping other Lowell residents will also show their backing of the thousands of military personnel serving in the Gulf area," said Burger.
A Desert Storm Scrapbook kept by Martha Burger contained a newspaper article from an unnamed paper about the Tri-Creek and Cedar Lake service men and women. The article, entitled "Desert Storm Soldiers Given 'Welcome Home,'" listed Pfc. Robert B. Burger, U.S. Army 101st Airborne Div.
This article from an unknown newspaper came from the Desert Storm scrapbook Robert Burger's mother kept:
Thanks From Soldier
To the people, organizations and Town of Lowell:
I want to say "thank you" to you all for the fantastic support I received during my eight months over in Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Without the backing of my family, friends and people that I did not even know, it would have been even rougher than it was.
I have tried to write back to the groups that sent packages to me and tried to answer most of the mail, but I know that I did not reach everyone because of the circumstances of war and conditions that we were in while "in country," so I want to try to let you all know how very much it all meant to me.
When I arrived back in the United States and then on to Lowell, it was very touching to see all the yellow ribbons, flags waving and posters in the windows of the homes...thank you, America, and thank you Lowell for caring and supporting us all.
PFC Robert B. Burger
101st Airborne Div.
Ft. Campbell, Ky.