702ND TRANS BATTALION OPER DIARY SAUDI ARABIA 1990 THRU 1991

File: 970815_sep96_decls24_0021.txt
Page: 0021
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










                               OPERATION DESERT STORM


           17 January - D-Day; Operation Desert Storm air offensive
           begins.

           Bn goes to MOPP level 4 several times during the early
           morning hours as the Air Force strikes targets in Iraq and
           occupied Kuwait. Taking of NAP tablets is cancelled when the
           unit returns to MOPP level 0. Convoy of 15 vehicles arrives
           in Dammam. Two vehicles driven by host nation drivers fall
           out of the convoy. Replacement drivers from the 1404th will
           take the vehicles to Jubayl. The mission to KKMC is
           cancelled, because civilian workers do not report to work at
           the rail yard in Riyadh. Therefore containers cannot be
           loaded. These trucks are ordered to go to Dammam, thence to
           Jubayl to move ammunition containers. Concerns are raised by
           7th Gp over the number of civilian drivers available. There
           are 455 civilian drivers are available for missions. The air
           campaign continues.
           18 January - Bn goes to MOPP level 0 at 03:00 in response to
           a warning of a scud missile attack. On order, troops take
           NAP pills, and go to MOPP level 1. At 04:00 the unit goes to
           MOPP level 4 for several hours in response to scud missile
           attack. Missiles are launched from western Iraq at Israel.
           At least one missile was launched from Iraq at the Dhahran
           area of Saudi Arabia. The double sonic boom of an outgoing
           Patriot missile could be clearly heard in the port area. One
           1404th Trans Co soldier is admitted to the hospital with
           chest pains. Difficulty is noted in communicating by
           hand held radio. Ts this jamming? Bn S3 proceeded to Jeddah
           with 3 mechanics from the 1404th Trans Co to conduct a
           technical inspection of new commercial cargo truck assets.
           Dhahran area under scud attack again in the evening.

           19 January - Bn begins moving 2nd Bde, I Inf Div. Bn S3
           arrives in Jeddah in the evening.

           20 January - Maintenance contact team begins inspecting
           vehicles in Jeddah. Conversion of livestock carriers to flat
           bed trailers begins. Tarps and tiedown straps are sent to
           Jubayl to support ammunition moves by A Co. Four (4) scud
           missiles are launched at the Dhahran area in the late
           evening. The missiles are intercepted and destroyed by US
           Army Patriot  missiles.
           21 January -  Port goes on heightened alert after reports of
           divers being  seen in the harbor. Defensive perimeters are
           established. A bit of comedy occurs when a soldier trips and
           drops his 30  round magazine in the water. Two (2) scud
           missiles are  launched at the port in the early morning. The
           missiles are  intercepted and destroyed by Patriot missiles.
           In the morning debris from the attacks is found all over the