WARTIME AWARD AIR METAL

File: 072496_jul96_decls3_0009.txt
Page: 0009
Total Pages: 10

Subject: WARTIME AWARD   AIR METAL                                       

Unit: 4447;VII  CO

Parent  Organization: PS          

Box ID: BX001007

Folder Seq #:         71

Document Number:          2












                                                   NARRATIVE




            FOR EXTRA ORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PERFORMING A CRITICAL RESUPPLY MISSION IN

            CONJUNCTION WITH A 4TH BRIGADE MOVEMENT INTO KUWAIT DURING PHASE III OF THE

            DIVISION'S MOVEMENT ON 27 FEBRUARY 1991.       CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER TWO REID WAS ACTING

            AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT DIRECTED TO EXTERNALLY SLING LOAD 500

            GALLON FUEL BLIVETS TO THE 1ST BATTALION, IST AVIATION REGIMENT'S NEW TACTICAL

            ASSEMBLY AREA. WHILE ENROUTE, THE CREWS ENCOUNTERED POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH LOW

            CEILINGS WHICH FORCED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLY IN LESS THAN SAFE CONDITIONS WITH

            VISIBILITY OF 1/8 MILE IN SMOKE AND FOG, I%HICH MADE NAVIGATIONAL FLIGHT EXTREMELY

            DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING.     UPON REACHING THE MIDPOINT ON THE PRESCRIBED ROUTE THE

            CREWS FLEW PAST AN ENEMY AMMUNITION TRUCK THAT WAS BURNING AND SUDDENLY ORDNANCE

            STARTED EXPLODING.    AFTER TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AVOID THE BURNING ORDNANCE

            TRUCK, THE CREW SAW A 43REEN FLARE, WHICH SIGNALS A CHEMICAL ATTACK. THE CREWS TOOK

            IMMEDIATE ACTION BY DONNING THEIR CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND CONTINUED THE

            MISSION.    AS THE   CREW CONTINUED THE MISSION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THEY WITNESSED

            TRACER FIRE THROUGHOUT THE ROUTE.        UPON ARRIVAL AT THE ASSIGNED GRIDS THE CREWS


            DROPPED THE LOADS AND RETURNED.     THE PROFESSIONALISM DEMONSTRATED BY THE CREW WHILE

            IN MARGINAL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN AN ACTIVE ENEMY COMBAT ZONE, UNDER MAXIMUM

            OPERATIONAL PROTECTIVE CHEMICAL POSTURE CLEARLY EXEMPLIFIES AN EXTRAORDINARY ACT OF

            COURAGE, FORTITUDE, AND ACHIEVEMENT. SUCH ACHIEVEMENT EXEMPLIFIES THE RICH TRADITION

            AND WILL OF THE IST INFANTRY DIVISION.

Document 10 f:/Week-27/BX001007/AWARD - REID - JAMES A-2/wartime award air metal:0719961126353
Control Fields 17
File Room = jul96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-27
Box ID = BX001007
Unit = 4447;VII CO
Parent Organization = PS
Folder Title = AWARD - REID - JAMES A-2
Folder Seq # = 71
Subject = WARTIME AWARD AIR METAL
Document Seq # = 3
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 19-JUL-1996