WrTll THE I MARINE EXPED~ONARY FORCE IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM   11


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    BGen James A. Brabham, Commanding General, 1st Force Service Support Group

commander arose in late December, both felt that it was too late to interpose
another lieutenant general between themselves.6     General Boomer's deputy
commander and persona! representative for Marine Forces Central Command in
Riyadh was Major General Jeremiah W. "Digger" Pearson III.      Pearson had
completed a tour as Central Command's inspector general a year earlier, was
familiar with its staff, and spoke Arabic.
   The first and perhaps knottiest issue at the joint level arose even before
General Boomer's arrival: control of air power.  Lieutenant General Charles A.
Homer, USAF, the cornmander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, proposed
that Marine aviation come under a single theater manager for air known as the