12                                       U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-1991


Joint Forces Air Component Commander.        Tl~e presence of four U.S. aviation
forces, host-nation, and numerous other allied air forces within the theater was
daunting.  It was obvious that some form of overall control was necessary.
Doctrinal differences aside, the main concern from the Marines' perspective was
that their unique team of air-ground forces not be broken up.7
    General Pearson enjoyed a close friendship with General Homer; both men
were active fighter/attack pilots with much combat experience. Pearson was also
a graduate of the U.S. Air Force's Air War College.     With recently arrived
Major General Royal M. Moore, commander of the I MEF's aviation combat
element, the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, they hammered out the agreements for
employment of Marine aviation by mid-September.        It was during this early
period that most of the basic details of the offensive air campaign were decided,
well over four months before they were actually executed.
    Under  the system worked out,        General Homer  as Joint Forces Air
Component Commander (JFACC) would issue a daily Air Tasking Order to
coordinate all theater air operations.   Marine air would continue to support its
organic forces and also provide a percentage of fixed wing sorties, primarily
F/A-i S Hornets and, later, A-6E Intruders plus EA-6B Prowlers for electronic
support, to Central Command for theater missions.      In turn, JFACC sorties
would strike deeper targets nominated by MarCent's targeting cell, whose
members were known as "targeteers." General Boomer's highest priority targets
were, and would remain, Iraqi command and control nodes and indirect fire
weapons.


I.g1,~


MajGen Jere,niah W Pearson 111 was Deputy Commander, Marine Forces, Centra! Command.
Assigned on temporary duty to CentCorn Headquarters in Rtyadh, he was the senior Marine
present during the pianning phases and buidup for Desert Sto~n.