702ND TRANS BATTALION OPER DIARY SAUDI ARABIA 1990 THRU 1991

File: 970815_sep96_decls24_0022.txt
Page: 0022
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










            port area.

            22 January - scud alerts 4 times during the early morning and
            once at night. Convoy operations continue.

            23 January - Three Scud alerts in the evening.

            24 January - Convoy operations continue. No success in
            obtaining additional supplies of small arms ammunition for
            the soldiers. Troops deploy on convoy with one 30 round
            magazine each. This is thought to be enough for self
            defense in this type of terrain. Ilowever, the skimpy supply
            of ammunition for provisional units creates a morale problem
            for many people.

            25 January - Jeddah trucks pick up containers in the port.

            26 January - Two scud launches in the early morning hours.
            Convoy of commercial flatbed trucks departs from Jeddah. At
            approximately 22:00 hours one truck was involved in an
            accident when it is stuck by a civilian vehicle attempting to
            pass on the shoulder of the road. one civilian is killed and
            another hospitalized. Military drivers report by telephone
            that after delivering their cargo, the supported unit is
            attempting to task them for other missions. Drivers are
            instructed to return to Dammam.

            27 January - Bn S3 and driver are in civil police custody in
            Jeddah. Released to custody of Saudi Arabian Army (SAA)
            military police custody in the afternoon. Unit
            representatives continue to attempt to commander vehicles by
            insisting that their units take priority over others.
            Checking with the MC Bn reveals no change. No priority. No
            truck. Unit reps have no honor when trying to get trucks for
            their units!

            28 January - Scud launches against Dammam and Riyadh
            continue. Twenty-three (23) trucks with maintenance problems
            or damaged in accidents are collected at the Royal Saudi Air
            Force (RSAF) Base at Al flawiyah, near Taif.

            29 January - Sn S3 and driver are released by SAA. Proceed
            to Taif where trucks are being concentrated for repairs.
            Troops are billeted with USAF F-111 Tactical Fighter Wing.
            This is a massive air operation. Cooks, clerks, mechanics,
            medics, security police all working together so that a small
            group of pilots will actually attack the enemy. Iraqi troops
            stage a raid into Saudi Arabia at Kafji. 1404th main returns
            to Log Base Alpha. Trucks from Jeddah arriving in Dammam.
            Full moon.

            30 January - Repairs continue. Each afternoon, and late into
            the night the F-111's fly north. Each is loaded with 4 laser
            guided 2000 pound bombs. Many of the planes are making more