OP DESERT SHIELD 483RD MED DET VS JB 6 AUG 90 16 JAN 91

File: 102496_aug96_decls9_0005.txt
Page: 0005
Total Pages: 20

Subject: OP DESERT SHIELD  483RD MED DET  VS  JB  6 AUG 90 16 JAN 91     

Unit: ARCENT      

Parent Organization: CENTCOM     

Box ID: BX000481

Folder Title: COMMAND REPORTS 422SD MED DET  VETERINARY SVCS COMMAND REPORT                                   

Document Number:         17

Folder SEQ  #:         17








          the units were DOP 87/86 with some 85 DOP rations brought in by the
          Marines. The common complaint we received was that the unit had a
          bad UBL and wanted Vets to come out and condemn it. Upon further
          inspection we would find isolated swellers with the remainder of
          the meals in the lot being good. Recoimnendations made to the units
          were to place the rations under shade or cammo netting to protect
          them from the sun and heat and rotate them out as newer rations
          became available. As time passed we noticed a consistent problem
          with all MRE'S which had arrived in theater during the hot part of
          the year and were not protected from the sun and heat; the cheese
          spread would turn brown, separate and curdle and the peanut butter
          would separate. Neither item could be kneaded to their original
          consistency but after multiple sampling they were determined to be
          wholesome if not appealing.   No systemic problem was identified
          with the MRE's except the consistent findings in those rations
          exposed to excessive heat.    As the heat reduced we also got a
          reduction in the number of calls on swollen meals. This reduction
          was believed to be a result of a decrease in temperatures but might
          also be attributed to better education of the units and improved
          storage practices for the rations.

          IV. SANITARY INSPECTIONS OF COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS:

               The normal situation for the procurement of A rations for
          consumption by the soldier requires that a vendor contact a
          government contracting agent who decides whether the product
          produced is needed. If the product is needed the contracting agent
          then contacts the Veterinary HQ's which maintains the Directory and
          requests an initial sanitary inspection be performed on the
 is produced in a sanitary
          manner. The initial sanitary inspection is normally tasked to the
          unit with geographical responsibility for the area in which the
          plant is located. However these normal procedures were not used in
          Saudi Arabia because all of the A rations consumed were provided
          free of charge by the king through the Host Nation Feeding system
          and were not "procured" by US Forces. In addition large numbers of
          uninspected establishments were already providing A rations to the
          soldiers without having any inspection performed before the arrival
          of the first Veterinary units.

               The initial heavy workload therefore involved going to dining
          facilities, inspecting the sources of the food served,         then
          reporting those sources back to COL Alm for eventual tasking for
          sanitary inspection. XVIII ABN Corps required all personnel who
          had contact with local nationals on the economy to be in a civilian
          vehicle and to wear civilian cloths. Many of the officers did not
          have civilian cloths and eventually one set per officer and driver
          were purchased through the 44th Med Bde.    Each Veterinarian and
          inspector who performed inspections on the economy also had to
          carry an authorization to be downtown signed by the Bde Commander
          and a bag containing their weapons, ammunition and gas mask. There
          was only one civilian vehicle available for veterinary personnel to

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Document 20 f:/Week-32/BX000481/COMMAND REPORTS 422SD MED DET VETERINARY SVCS COMMAND REPORT/op desert shield 483rd med det vs jb 6 aug 9:10119615402310
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-32
Box ID = BX000481
Unit = ARCENT
Parent Organization = CENTCOM
Folder Title = COMMAND REPORTS 422SD MED DET VETERINARY SVCS COMMAND REPORT
Folder Seq # = 17
Subject = OP DESERT SHIELD 483RD MED DET VS JB 6 AUG 9
Document Seq # = 17
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 = 11-OCT-1996