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File: 970815_sep96_decls46_0005.txt
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
12th ENGINEER BATTALION ADVANCE PARTY
The tension in the Gulf broucht numerous units in Eurooe
into action. The 12th Encineer Battalion was amorq one of the
manv units selected to do. L)n Christmas dav. kev leaders and
sLtDervisors were notified of the imoendina move to Saudi Arabia.
fhe ioilotjirlq dav brouoht the more than 760 oersonnel of the
Battalion back to work. lfpmeoiatelv. an advanced Dartv was out
tooerner.
ltvenzv memners of the battalion were hand picked to deolov
with the advanced Dartv. i'lev members of the t:omoanies would
accofnoariv sDeci4ic staff seltion members to Saudi in advance to
mai(e coordination with the unit the battalion would be
attached to and to ensure smooth transition into the oort.
ic)rwarc from the aort in Damman to the Tactical Assemblv )rea.
A list of Advanced Partv members is at ADDendix 2.
Aooro:@imateiv three weeks after not ification. the Advanced
Partv aeoarted Dexheir@i. With encc)uraoina words from the
battalion commander on the niaht of dedartui,e. the Advanced F'arl,i
set off in a ous and two TMP Vans ior Rhein-Main AirDort. Ttiev
had been told that no vehicles co-,tid be brouoht with them. aric
this Decision would sioniiicantlv cornolicate the abilitv of the
ad.vanced Dartv corrdination effort.
The departure from Frank4urt was a smooth one. The
advanced Dartv waited for a iet4 nours at the holdina tents
orovided ior soldiers leavina for Saudi Arabia. The cal I to
was aiven and with a check of ID Cards and ID Taos aoainst a
t manifest. the aroun was off. The bus ride took no mc)@e
half of an hour to the Diane. The Diane was a converted
now called a C9-C. which stood for Caroo. The caroo was
nod to the front of the olane and the Dersonnel radl- behinc
"The olane stoooed in Crete to refuel and chance crews. The
uel.oderation took no more than an hour and the -.rew that
oan2ed the crout3 to Crete was rec)laced bv militarv
nInel. Soon the olane was aoain flvina. t,;ith the mountains
ete left far behind. guicklv desert sands could be seen
her few hours later and desert sands could be seen
a out for as far as the eves could see. The Diane
terrainian then crossed over northern Africa.
s were as lona as thev were anvwhvre in the
nutes later the Red sea reolaced the Desert
the waitine continued. A few moments later ttie
and onlv then did the advanced oartv reali--e
Saudi Arabia. After ilvina over the desert ior
e hours. the olane finailv came to its
t slowlv came into view. The Diane recei,.,e(i
and after 10 minutes or so. it was taxiino to
s rainina outside and the advanced nartv
ectation oi the unknown. The olane came to A
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