SECERETARY OF DEFENSE REQUEST 1 APR 91

File: 120396_jun96_decls12_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 7

Subject: SECERETARY OF DEFENSE REQUEST 1 APR 91                          

Unit: VII CORPS   

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box ID: BX000233

Folder Title: SOLDIERS STORIES                                                                                

Document Number:          4

Folder SEQ  #:          2










                          VXGNETTES OF SOLDIER PROPESSXONALXSM
                                       IN vxx CORPS


            1.   SFC John D. Hernandez, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field  Artillery,
            3rd Armored Division, was finishing up his assignment  in
            Friedberg, Germany, in November 1990. He had already   shipped his
            household goods and his car back to the United States  when he was
            notified of his imminent deployment on DESERT SHXELD. Without a
            word of complaint, he quickly secured lodging for his wife,
            bought another car, and obtained a few pieces of furniture for
            his now home. At the same time, he took on the responsibility to
            purchase all the expendable supplies his battalion would need in
            Southwest Asia, while conducting artillery section-level training
            for twenty-six howitzer crews as the battalion master gunner. He
            played a key role in the movement of the battalion's wheeled
            vehicle fleet from Friedberg to the ports. Once in Saudi Arabia,
            he set the example of calm, cool professionalism for the younger
            soldiers to follow. In the desert, he took charge of the
            battalion ammunition section and its 58 soldiers. During the
            ground offensive, his main concern was "to be there when the
            soldiers of the battalion needed him." He always was. Not a
            hero? Ask the "Red Dragon Battalion."

            2.   SGT Robert E. Rothardt, HHC, 22d Chemical Company, 3rd
            Armored Division, operates an MMI (FUCHS). His initial
            instruction on the system consisted of a three-week crash course
            taught at the German NBC School. SGT Rothardt took it upon
            himself to teach himself the indepth knowledge the course could
            not provide in such a short period. When the initial vehicle
            commander departed suddenly, SGT Rothardt took charge using his
     natural leadership abilities. His dedication paid off when his
            vehicle encountered chemical contamination during bunker clearing
            operations following the cease fire after DESERT STORM. He
            detected and obtained a confirm spectrum of mustard agent which,
            due to its physical properties, would not ordinarily have been
            detected by the MM1. This detection confirmed Iraq possesses
            this deadly blister agent.

            3.   PFC Randy Perdue, HHC, 5th Battalion, Sth Cavalry Regiment,
            3rd Armored Division, drives the truck that carries the equipment
            and supplies for the battalion tactical operations center (TOC).
            During the pursuit in to Iraq, PFC Perdue found himself driving
            his light-skinned vehicle in the middle of a mechanized formation
            deep in enemy territory. During the operation, the TOC vehicles
            encountered an anti-armor ambush. PFC Perdue, seeing two to
            three enemy soldiers, engaged them from his moving truck and
            drove then back.

            4.   lLT Paul A. Youngman, Scout Platoon L4ader, 4th Battalion,
            34th Armor, attached to 3rd Armored Division, played a key role
            during DESERT STORM. His platoon "stitched the seam" between the
            3rd Armored Division, the division cavalry squadron, and the 2d
            ACR. This mission required a cool head, initiative, and

Document 7 f:/Week-24/BX000233/SOLDIERS STORIES/seceretary of defense request 1 apr 91:11089615153961
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-24
Box ID = BX000233
Unit = VII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = SOLDIERS STORIES
Folder Seq # = 2
Subject = SECERETARY OF DEFENSE REQUEST 1 APR 91
Document Seq # = 4
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 = 08-NOV-1996