Case Narrative

 

Fox Detections in an ASP/Orchard

 

Final Report

November 16, 2001

Many Gulf War veterans have expressed concern their unexplained illnesses may have resulted from their experiences in that war. In response to veterans’ concerns, the Department of Defense established a task force in June 1995 to investigate incidents and circumstances relating to possible causes. The Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses took over responsibility for these investigations on November 12, 1996. Effective April 5, 2001, the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) for Gulf War Illnesses, Medical Readiness, and Military Deployments assumed continued responsibility for Gulf War issues.

Case narratives describe what we know today about specific events that took place during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm of 1990 and 1991. This particular case narrative focuses on reports of possible chemical warfare agent detections in an ammunition supply point (ASP) in an orchard southwest of Kuwait City, by a Fox Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle attached to Task Force Ripper.

We published the interim report on September 23, 1997. Since then, we have not received any new information that contradicts the material presented, nor have any additional leads developed to change the narrative’s assessments. The Presidential Special Oversight Board for Department of Defense Investigations of Gulf War Chemical and Biological Incidents reviewed the interim narrative and recommended we republish it as a final report. We amended the interim narrative to address minor issues the Board raised and are now publishing this narrative as a final report. However, if you believe you have information that may change this case narrative, please call:

1-800-497-6261

William Winkenwerder, Jr., MD
Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness)
For Gulf War Illnesses, Medical Readiness, and Military Deployments
US Department of Defense

2001136-0000011 Ver. 2.0

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. METHODOLOGY
 
II. SUMMARY
 
III. NARRATIVE
A. Background
B. Tactical Situation and Force Organization
C. The Ammunition Supply Point
1. Description
2. MM-1 Alerts (February 28, 1991)
3. 1/5 Actions in the ASP (February 28, 1991)
4. Task Force Ripper Actions (February 28, 1991)
D. The MM-1 Alerts in Unit Logs
E. EOD Team Inspection (March 1, 1991)
F. Post-War Cleanup in Kuwait
 
IV. ANALYSIS
A. The MM-1 and Alert Procedures
B. Chemical Warfare Agents
C. Additional Documentation
D. Post-War Information
 
V. ASSESSMENT
 
VI. LESSONS LEARNED
A. MM-1 Tapes
B. Organizational and Administrative Record keeping

TAB A - Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Glossary

TAB B - Units Involved

TAB C - Bibliography

TAB D - Methodology for Chemical Warfare Incident Investigation

TAB E - Changes in This Report

END NOTES

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