ANNEX H NUCLEAR BIO AND CHEMICAL TO 7TH ENGINEER

File: 970725_sep96_decls30_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 4
Subject = ANNEX H NUCLEAR BIO AND CHEMICAL TO 7TH ENGINEER                

Parent Organization = ARCENT      

Unit = VII CORPS   

Folder Title = 7TH ENGR BDE-COMMANDER REPT-VOL 18A-ANNEXES H-L                                                 

Document Number =          2

Box ID = BX000313




                                 UNCLASSIFIED



              UNIT HISTORY - NBC

              I. Pre - Deployment. The knowledge that the Iraqis had amassed
              one of the largest stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons
              in the world, added to the increased emphasis of NBC prior to
              deployment. It quickly became apparent that all the units in the
              Brigade did not have sufficient equipment, and in some cases
              chemical personnel, to effectively sustain combat operations in
              an NBC environment.       Numerous cross-leveling      actions were

              primarily trom the 237th and 565th Engineer battalions.            Ane
              Brigade units from USAREUR arrived in theater with shortages in
              protective suits. MBAL alarms, Chemical Agent Monitors, and Class
              VIII material.     Units which joined the Brigade in theater had
              similar shortages.

              II. Organization of the Section. The section is authorized. and
              had, one 74B 03 and one 54B50.           The section received two
              augmentees prior to G-Day. The first was a second lieutenant who
              came directly from the Chemical Officer Basic Course and the
              second was a captain from Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Prior to G-
              Day the section split between TAC and TOC.       The two augmentees
              and the Brigade NBC NCO stayed with the TOC, and the Brigade
              Chemical Officer went with the TAC.     This configuration remained
              through the redeployment phase.

              111. Significant Events.

                    a. Because chemical protective suits were continuously in
              short supply through the ground phase, it was a constant problem
              to keep units out of MOPP and thus preserve the suits.       A major
              contributing factor to units breaking into their overgarments,
              was the lack of guidance, or incorrect guidance, given to units
              in the port area.     Each time their was a SCUD alert in port,
              units were instructed to go to MOFF IV. -This was a blanket
              policy which totally exaggerated the threat and wasted precious
              MOPP suits.   A similar event occurred with the gth Engineer
              Battalion. The unit was attached to the Ist Infantry Division
              when a false alarm outside the unit caused the entire battalion
              to go to MOPP IV.        This occurred several days after the
              initiation of the bombing campaign.   Every individual who    had to
              wear their protective suit prior to ground hostilities received a
              replacement set prior to G-Day.

                      b.    The most important changes or addition to the
              Brigade's chemical defense equipment related to Class viii
              material.   Although initially in short supply, the Convulsant
              Antidote for Nerve Agent (CANA) eventually was issued to each
              individual.   In addition. each medic carried five, and combat
              life savers also caz-ried several extra. Other important medical
              supplies included the Pyridostigmine Bromide (PB) tablets and
              Anthrax and Botulinum immunizations. The Brigade started taking
              the PB tablets on January 16th and stopped on the morning of the
              lgth.  Although the Brigade never raised its minimum MOPP level


                                   UNCLASSIFIED