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Subject: 24TH MECH INF DIV OPERATION DESERT STORM AFTER ACTION REPORT    

Box  ID: BX001437

Document Number:          2

Folder Title: 24 MECH INF DIV AFTER ACTION REPORT                                                             

Folder Seq #:        785

Unit: 24TH ID     

Parent Organzation: XVIII CORPS 






                                       UNCLASSIFIED
                                    JMLS LONG REPORT                    05/31-

           I. (U) J=S NUMBER: 52966-59078 (00019), submitted by GI, 24
           870-5516, (912)767-5516.

           2. (U) No type OPN DESERT STORM NOTES conducted by 24 IN DIV (M--
           on 05/23/91.

           3. (U) KEYWORDS: PERSONNEL, GRREG, GRAVES REGISTRATION.

           4. (U) TITLE: GRAVES REGISTRATION

           5. (U) OBSERVATION: There was no standard operation procedure
           for mortuary affairs / graves registration (GRREG) in the
           division prior to commencement of OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD and
           DESERT STORM.

           6. (U) DISCUSSION: An SOP had to be developed while in theater
           to handle the GRREG system. Problems encountered in this arena
           were many. They include:

           a.  Lack of knowledge and precedence.

           b.  Changes in standard policies at division level.
           C.  Lack of consistent guidance from higher headquarters (corps
           and ARCENT).

           d.  Lack of resources (i.e. transportation assets).
           Many procedures derived from field manuals did not apply to this
           theater. For example, standard policy dictates that the
           division S-4 has proponency over GRREG functions. The division
           commander made it a G-1 function (a "personnel" issue versus a
           "logistics" issue. This created problems because many of the
           assets and resources are controlled by the G-4 (command and
           control over forward GRREG assets are maintained by DISCOM).
           There were not enough transportation assets to dedicate any to
           GRREG missions. Deceased personnel are evacuated through
           logistics channels but in this theater with the distances so
           great, medical evacuation helicopters were used instead. The
           problem here is one of public perception. A newspaper and
zines showed photographs of injured soldiers being
           evacuated with deceased soldiers which is normally "taboo". This
           method, however, did evacuate the deceased rather quickly. If
           this were a high-intensity conflict with a large number of
           deceased personnel, this method would not be feasible. The
           space on medical evacuation aircraft would be occupied soley by
           injured personnel. The deceased would have to be evacuated
           through "back-haul" which, again, is a logistics channel.
           The division did not receive the GRREG platoon that should have
           been available to handle all GRREG functions on the battlefield.
           GRREG operating procedures had to be adjusted. There was a

                                        Page - 22

                                      UNCLASSIFIED

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Document 253 f:/Week-22/BX001437/24 MECH INF DIV AFTER ACTION REPORT/24th mech inf div operation desert storm after a:08029615062350
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-22
Box ID = BX001437
Unit = 24TH ID
Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS
Folder Title = 24 MECH INF DIV AFTER ACTION REPORT
Folder Seq # = 785
Subject = 24TH MECH INF DIV OPERATION DESERT STORM AFTER A
Document Seq # = 50
Document Date =
Scan Date = 12-JUN-1996
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 = 02-AUG-1996