702ND TRANS BATTALION OPER DIARY SAUDI ARABIA 1990 THRU 1991

File: 970815_sep96_decls24_0032.txt
Page: 0032
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









          movement from 7th GP is to support missions to Kuwait first.

          29 March - 702 FRAGO 13-91; Mission: Conduct Bn run.

          Convoy of trucks loaded with latrlens sent to Al Sanrar EPW
          East Camp. CPT Blake called from TCC-North. No provisions
          have been made by XVIII Airborne Corps to provide sleeping
          tents for our drivers. Movement of T-rations continues to
          sustain the force in the field. Troops report that other
          units are attempting to hold civilian drivers. "You work for
          us nowl" This is a continual problem. Three A Co soldiers
          are apprehended for being under the influence of alcohol at
          TCC-North.

          30 March - Full moon. Illegal whiskey is definitely becoming
          a problem. The local hootch is called 'sedeke" (my friend in
          Arabic) by the natives or "Scud Juice" by our troops. It
          unsafe with a high methanol and lead content. In some cases
          formaldehyde is added as a preservative. The civilian
          drivers are apparently part of a bootleging network within
          the Kingdom. There is a joke making the rounds, the only
          people who don't drink in Saudi Arabia are American soldiers,
          and religious fanatics. In addition to the health risks, the
          penalties for violating the no drinking rule are severe. Our
          relatively low level of disciplinary problems has been in
          part due to the scarcity of alcohol. Now people are finding
          their sources. Bn Cdr meets with the Gp Cdr to recommend
          that we pull military assistant drivers from trucks driven by
          Host Nation civilians. Military "shotguns" are no longer
          mission essential. We are attempting to redeploy unnecessary
          personnel. This would have the additional benefit of
          reducing access to homemade alcohol peddled by the civilian
          drivers. Request is approved subject to our continuing to
          provide escorts for convoys.

          31 March - Vehicles arrive at TCC-North to support
          redeployment of XVIII Airborne Corps units. Bn Cdr flies to
          KKMC to visit D Co personnel there. Returns same day.
          Vehicles dispatched to support movements from KFTA.


                        MONTULY MILEAGE REPORT: MARCH 1991


                         TOTAL MILES         AVG PER WEEK


                           1,740,857           435,214


           1 April - Cmd and staff mtg. Bn is placed under the
          operational control of the 32 Trans Gp. Two of our vehicles
          are located in Lorry Park, loaded with propellant charges.
          Bn strength: 803 soldiers. Assets available: 874 flatbed
          trucks.