14th Quartermaster Detachment The 14th Quartermaster Detachment , is a United States Army Reserve water purification unit stationed in Greensburg , Pennsylvania . During Operation Desert Storm the Detachment lost 13 soldiers in an Iraqi Al Hussein ballistic missile attack on 25 February 1991 at Dhahran , Saudi Arabia . The 14th , which had been in Saudi Arabia only six days , suffered the greatest number of casualties of any allied unit during Operation Desert Storm . Eighty - one percent of the unit ' s 69 soldiers had been killed or wounded . Mobilization , training and deployment . On 15 January 1991 the 14th Quartermaster Detachment was mobilized for service in Operation Desert Storm . Three days later the unit arrived at Fort Lee , Virginia to conduct intensive mobilization training in preparation for deployment to Saudi Arabia . For the next 30 days , detachment soldiers trained 18 hours a day on the Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit ( ROWPU ) water purification system and common soldier tasks . The unit , augmented by 35 filler personnel from other active Army and reserve units , arrived in Dhahran , Saudi Arabia on 19 February 1991 . The detachment ' s soldiers were quartered in a warehouse that had been converted to a temporary barracks . There they waited for the arrival of unit equipment and movement to a field support location . Al - Hussein Missile Attack . At 8 : 40 pm ( 12 : 40 pm EST ) on 25 February 1991 , parts of an Iraqi Al Hussein ballistic missile destroyed the barracks housing members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment . The failure of the Patriot air defense system in tracking the Iraqi missile over Dhahran was provoked by a shift in the range gate of the radar , due to the continuous use of the software for more than 100 hours without resetting . The radar initially detected the incoming missile , but lost track of the Al - Hussein when the system failed to predict its new position . In the single , most devastating attack on U . S . forces during that war , 28 soldiers died and 99 were wounded . The 14th Quartermaster Detachment lost 13 soldiers and suffered 43 wounded . Casualties were evacuated to medical facilities in Saudi Arabia and Germany . Response to attack . No community suffered a greater loss during Operation Desert Storm than Greensburg a Southwestern Pennsylvania town of 18 , 000 near Pittsburgh . Once word of the attack reached Pennsylvania , the 99th Army Reserve Command ( ARCOM ) , parent unit of the 14th , began a 24 hour - a - day vigil at the Greensburg Reserve Center to assist family members in their pain and grief . The 99th ARCOM and the 1st Army set up a casualty assistance center in town manned with chaplains , counselors , social workers and representatives from several federal agencies . They also assisted family members with visits to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center . Local citizens unselfishly volunteered to assist in these efforts . Pennsylvania ' s governor declared a week of mourning and ordered flags on all state buildings to be lowered to half mast . A community memorial service was held on 2 March 1991 . Over 1 , 500 citizens attended , filling the First Presbyterian Church and its adjoining grounds . Local ministers , the mayor , the Governor of Pennsylvania and the Secretary of the Army honored the members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment killed in the missile attack . " They were all of us , " said Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey , " a high school football star , a lover of country music , future homemakers of America , secretaries and salesmen , hunters and fishermen , postal workers and volunteer firemen , friends and lovers , fathers , sons , brothers , and two of our daughters . " Bright yellow ribbons decorated the windows of homes and stores in Greensburg , but there were also black ribbons and wreaths lining the streets in remembrance of the 13 soldiers who gave their lives in the service of their country . Unit redeployment . The 14th arrived back at their mobilization station , Fort Lee , Virginia , on 8 March 1991 . They were welcomed back at a special ceremony on Sergeant Seay Field by the Fort Lee community as well as the Quartermaster General , Brigadier General Paul J . Vanderploog and the Post Commander , Lieutenant General Leon Salomon . General Paul J . Vanderploog pinned Purple Heart s on two soldiers and National Defense Medal s on all . General Salomon told the assembled unit that they " will be a part of our proud history . We are saddened by your grief , but at the same time we are proud of your accomplishments . Stand tall . Hold your heads up high . The 14th Quartermaster Detachment has made a difference , and then some . " The 14th Quartermaster Detachment returned home to Greensburg , Pennsylvania on 9 March 1991 . Twenty - three soldiers returned home with the unit , seven of these returning soldiers had been wounded during the attack . At the time of the unit ' s return to the United States many of its soldiers were still in hospital recovery wards . They received a hero ' s welcome and were greeted at Latrobe Airport by family and community members as well as a number of dignitaries to included the Major General James Baylor , Commander , 99th Army Reserve Command ; Congressman John Murtha and Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Mark Single . Most of the members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment were released from active duty by 1 June 1991 . More than a dozen of the unit ' s soldiers continued to receive medical care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center . The 14th Quartermaster Detachment is still on the rolls of the U . S . Army Reserve . None of the soldiers who were with the unit when it deployed to Saudi Arabia are still assigned . In 1999 the unit deployed again , this time to Puerto Barrios , Guatemala , to provide fresh water to soldiers involved in assisting victims of Hurricane Mitch . Memorials . Greensburg , Pennsylvania . On the one year anniversary of this devastating loss , 25 February 1992 , a monument to the 14th Quartermaster Detachment was dedicated at the US Army Reserve Center in Greensburg , Pennsylvania . The monument was made possible by the outpouring of generosity of community members and donations from around the country . The Chief of Staff of the Army , General Gordon R . Sullivan gave the keynote address and assisted in unveiling the monument . Remarks were given my numerous dignitaries to include Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey , Senator Arlen Specter , Senator Harris Wofford , Congressmen , John Murtha , Major General James Baylor ( Commander , 99th Army Reserve Command ) and members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment . The monument consists of a horizontal granite slab as a base , upon which rests three vertical granite stones weighing a total of 12 , 000 pounds . Perched proudly atop the center pillar is a cast bronze bald eagle . Etched in the center pillar is the emblem of the US Army Quartermaster Corps , preceded by the following quotes : The 69 names of the Detachment soldiers who deployed to Saudi Arabia are featured on two bronze plaques on the front of the right and left stones . On the rear of the left stone is an etching of a female soldier ' s hands holding the American flag . On the rear of the right stone , an etched map of the Persian Gulf , indicating the locations of Dhahran , Saudi Arabia and Kuwait . To the left front of the monument is an actual size bronze casting of the boots , M - 16 rifle and helmet , symbolic of the fallen soldier . To the right front are two life - size cast bronze figures ; a kneeling male and a standing female in desert battle dress uniforms , reflecting on the loss of their comrades . On the cement wall surrounding the monument is a bronze plaque listing the names of the 28 soldiers killed in action . Behind the wall are three flagpoles bearing the flags of the United States , Pennsylvania and the United States Army . Behind the monument are 13 hemlock trees , the Pennsylvania state tree , planted as a living tribute to the 13 soldiers of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment who lost their lives in the war . The monument faces 90° due east , toward Saudi Arabia . Fort Lee , Virginia . On 20 April 1991 , the Quartermaster Center and School dedicated a new Water Training Facility on 41st Street in the memory of the fallen members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment . A stone monument and plaque list the names of the 13 unit members who perished . On 3 March 1993 , Fort Lee also dedicated one of its Gymnasiums as " Clark Gym " in honor of Specialist Beverly Sue Clark of Armagh . Members of the Clark family also raised over $ 100 , 000 to endow a scholarship in her name at Indiana University of Pennsylvania . Keystone State . On 20 July 1998 , the U . S . Army Reserve Barge Derrick 6801 , Keystone State was christened and named in honor of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment . The Keystone State is the state motto of Pennsylvania . Fatalities . 14th Quartermaster Detachment Other Units