702ND TRANS BATTALION OPER DIARY SAUDI ARABIA 1990 THRU 1991

File: 970815_sep96_decls24_0016.txt
Page: 0016
Total Pages: 43
Subject = 702ND TRANS BATTALION OPER DIARY SAUDI ARABIA 1990 THRU 1991    

Parent Organization = MISC        

Unit = MISC        

Folder Title = 702ND TRANS BN-PROVISIONAL-BATTALION OPERATIONS DIARY-SAUDI ARABIA 90-91                        

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX005619








            night. Bn will change mission per vocal order of 7th Trans
            GP Cdr, COL Brown. Effective 1 January 1990, HETs and
            lowboys will be transferred with civilian drivers to the
            control of the 32nd Trans GP. The Bn will receive additional
            flat bed trucks to replace the other assets given up.
            Mission priority will be the transshipment of ammunition, and
            general supplies forward. Some few HETs and lowboys may be
            retained for local use. Bn HQ is visited in the afternoon by
            LTC McMonagle, Cdr, 1103rd Trans Bn, his S3, MAJ Stinson, and
            MAJ Kacsan, 32nd Trans GP. The 1103rd has been tasked to
            receive HETs and lowboys from our unit. Bn and Group are
            pursuing measures to obtain chemical protective masks for
            civilian drivers, however we are not hopeful. There are
            American soldiers in theater who are not yet equipped with a
            mask. Scud alert in the morning. on order Bn stands down.
            Bn Cdr contacts 1404 Trans Co, Arizona Army National Guard.
            This unit is now on active duty at Fort Huachucua. It will
            come under our control when it arrives in Saudi Arabia, 30
            December - 2 January. It a light medium truck company, and
            will deploy into the theater without its trucks. The unit's
            mission will be to drive flatbed trucks loaded with
            ammunition into forward areas. We hope that this will reduce
            the operational security risk to our forward bases, and pose
            less risk to our civilian drivers who are neither equipped
            nor trained for combat.

            29 December - Proposals are being made to pay the drivers a
            bonus in the event of hostilities. Salaries and allowances
            vary according to the contract.       The drivers are paid the
            following by Al Khodari:


                            HOST NATION DRIVER    COMPENSATION

                       Salary:            SR 800  / Month    ($ 213)
                       Food Allowance:    SR 150  / Month    ($ 40)
                       Total:             SR 950  / Month    ($ 253)


            It is our understanding that some     contractors pay overtime.
            Cdr of the 1103rd Trans Bn visits     Bn Cdr. Bn S3 and SGT
            DeLaughter conduct a recon of Audi and Dodge, visiting the
            convoy support center on Dodge to determine support
            requirements for the 1404th.

            30 December - Flat bed trucks are sent to Jubayl to support
            ammunition moves. Drivers from 471st Trans Co, 32nd Trans GP
            train on commercial vehicles. Staff of the 1103rd visits
            with the Bn staff. Bn S3 meets with GP Cdr to prepare for
            Log Ex.

            31 December - New Year's Eve. Bn Cdr, XO, SGM Brent, and
            Motor Ops NCO, SFC Cotton attend Log Ex. Message: When the
            order comes, follow the plan. The time for bright ideas is