HISTORICAL RPT OF 12TH ENG BN IN SPT OF ODSS

File: 970815_sep96_decls46_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 20

Subject = HISTORICAL RPT OF 12TH ENG BN IN SPT OF ODSS

Parent Organization = VII CORPS

Unit = 3D AD

Folder Title = OPORDS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL

Document Number = 7

Box ID = BX001301

DEPLOYHENT OF THE 12th EHGIHEER RATTALZOH TO SOUTHREST ASZA

The 12th Encineer Battalion received its notification to deolov
in sudoort of ODeration Desert Shield on tnL, 24th of December.
1990. the Battalion Commander. LTC Robert T. Richardson. called
for an 1100 hour mee@lina the ne;:t nav. Christmas. with the
commanders and staff of the battalion. All tqere oresent. some ir
civilian clothes. tne Commander in his dress blues readv for the
afternoon meal in the ainina facxl)tv. and CF'T Peterson. Aloha
Comoanv Commander. in his BDU. to near the news that the !2th
Enaineers would deolov in 710-45 davs tn Southwest Asia (SWA). Echo
COMDanv woulo later find out that it would not deolov as a bridoe
comoanv or naul comoanv bv oroer ot the V CorDs Commander. T he
Mission of the battalion at SWA waE, unclear.
The followin,3 cav. the -'6th of December. ttie battalion tqas
back at work with the holiciavs cltt short. Each staii section was
diliaentiv assessing its resoective status and the needs of tt:e
oattalion to be 100@ mission caoablu in time for the earliest
aeolovment oate. The S3 section set to iyork, on OLitlisnino a
aeoiavment ordei-. the S4 teaan assessing critical sit3rlv needs. the
B110 hurt-tealv oot the battalio.,i irito tiL, i)i%,isicir) a,jooort
battalion s network to brln(3 uo over lt)O venicies oil the deadline
reoort. and the SI went to wart@ on ccllinc3'bicf7 over 120 oersonnel
from Chi-istmas leave. and identxiv,.nc: critical l'iL'S sh--rtaaes.
the Executive 04ficer. flaio i-iz ','. !,Iooren. in conjunction
with the S3. Maior Davic F@)denoL!, . tisL-t3 tt%p cari@ ceoiovment date
oi 23 Januarv as the taroet date to nave the battalion at 100% for
deolovment. This date turned out to t)c.- late. as tnL@ battalion
deoarture was moved uD to 17 JanLia, As -,he staff tiort,ed hard
oreoarina the order and doina their -@ssessmen@. the comoanies
increased their Dhvsical fitness c! aiiiina. readier 'nl-ir vehicles
ana eauiamenr. and oracnizeo tnlir
tamiiv suooort o.ans in
conjunction with the Cllaolain. CPT 8at3iien. anc the CS@i RaDt-8el.
Echo Comoativ. which was not amlo%,ina wirn trip o@.ttalon.
oecame the rear detachment Lincer r,ie Lummand r4 Cfl fare t4euschi@e.
rPT Meuschke ouicklv took on thr- resoc@isibillt%, 04 -rez)arl--3 -tie
famliv su()c)cirt Dlans. facilitv turrove@ o'.an. and vehicil, storaoe
olan for deolovina Dersonnei. The late ro@.iication c)f t!ie l@.t@, as
the last of fOLir battalions iri t,.ie 6th lpianlrv L),%,;sior;
(Mechanized) to deE)Iov into Stl(%. iian,@ ,ts fno%,emc?nt t c :)ricr,.ty oi
the Division.
The BMO. CFT Alan Vauchri anci @.is 4,3,Lrt-@ ,:rei@ ct fear. @c?als
and SFC Crockett. toot on the tas@, j4 -ettiiia the MattalIL3r. s
eculdment ooerational after the 615 clav GrAJLI;IqCEhrt@iohenf-?Is
ARTEP training exercise/densitv anr two t4eet,, reco%,erv arouram. ThF-
battalion completed the densitv on Dec: tt.f? recovlrv oroaram
lasted thru 20 Dec. the f)i%,ision f@EF@ decilcatld its Brava Comoanv
to assist 12th in locatina remai:, -ar-.s an(3 %-e..icle.leau.,c;nent
availability. The S4. CPT ilt-vin Jol,.rsr@ri. tvort@Ld c3n oettino the
necessary classes of sudaiv and local ru;-c)asL- itf-ws for the
battalion. ILT Hector Corominas. As@:i,-.tar.@ S-4. LOO"ainated th.L,
movement and accountability of all o@ tl)c? -,)atrition s Pcuiumerit to