HISTORICAL RPT OF 12TH ENG BN IN SPT OF ODSS

File: 970815_sep96_decls46_0010.txt
Page: 0010
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

Althouch the 25th involved no enemv contac@ for the
oricade. the 12th Encineer TOC was occuoied. The TOC had been
travelling for aDDroximatelv 6 hours that dav when a call on the
FM was received bv the Battalion Commander. LTC Richardson. He
tqas instrlicted bv "Readv 6". the Brioade Commander. COL Nash. to
nave the eticitieer souad cut a oround communications line. the
.associated Doles and destroy the eauioment.
lhe Tactical Operations Center comorised of ari f,1577
with crew. Itie crew of the "Gator Pit". as the trac@: iqas I:nown.
included @,SG "Storm" Neblitt. the crew chief and co-trat:k
commander. SG' Jerrv "Bator" Smith. chief mechanic and
contracts commander. 3GT "Blade" Wilcox. chief navioator and
battle fipld analvst and the S-71 Officer. Banaer MAJ
Ridenour.
Banc-c.@:- "I. after immediately talking to Banaer 6. told
Elancpr "-@. SFC Cox. who out into motion the L-na;neer @.ouad. The
souaa. led bv SSG Sanderson. and accomoanied bv EFC Co:: and CPT
F'acL-. set @r'D the exolcjsives on thrge Doles with detonating cord
De@tqeen c-at:h ooll. The battalion TOC continued to move forward
,,in,,i] a)l rtil, -vehicles from 5t)3 Forward Subpart Battalion
cleared than minimum sa4etv zone before the battalion coinmande:-
oave tne e::ectitinn order. After the ooles fell. the souad cut
,tie wire 'ine connecting them.
The next dav. the 3-5 CAV enaineLrs,d@scoverL-d and detonated
An t'P m)nL,. The brioade made contact with 12 T-72 tan"s movina
north tOI'3"CiS Basra. li-aa as it oushed tqest towards PL Bullet.
lne @,c?;:t TOC-directeci mission was on the follot4ina dav. the
at aDDrOXimatelv 2000 hours: cut another
ci Februarv 1991.
cr)infplinications line. and mark -i ,nnefield that was in the
tirioaae s route of march. vicinitv PU 906075. The souad would
r.@vf- to execute both missions at niaht under Possible onemv
iiie. -SFC Cri@,. CPT Pace and the encineer souad moved forwa-d to
the Communications line. With the Loran locked onto the
iocation. the squad arrived at the site within 40-45 minutes.
441t!l tlirtiina -tltlks and small arms fire surrounding the scuad.
Hill: ('o-@ iva@@ted no time in establishing -security. It took 20
@iiri,ites to niace the demolitions on two ooles of the
cc,it.m@.@llz:Llt:oris line and execute the mission. The scuad otticklv
moved to its next mission.
TnL- minefield was of unknown size and densitv. With the
triteak L)4 L-nemv contact. the souad moved to the brioadl-s rioht
-,a mark it and prevent friendlv vehicles from TF Rodriatie-
ino @:SE; fi-om stravina into it. SFC Cox knew from
-2"ce,r,,ence th-at this i-4as not enouch. He immediately took a c)air
@'."6-7 s. and with the help Of the infrared siaht and SSG
,@e.,iciet-son. oecan to probe, on foot, for the boundaries of the
.,i!iciield. After about an hour of carefully picking their way
--)rc,tiLiti the minefield. ceneral boundaries were marked on the two
sides that Poised the most threat to anoroachina
:iic!riolv venicles. CPT Pace notified the Brioade TOC of the
o4 the mineiield and olaced his vehicle between the
mi.nelil-ld and friendly elements. Bv the time the last vehicle
-ii. SF(. Cox. CPT Pace and the enaineer scluads had remained
in L)Iace ior over 6 hours. Relieved at the end of their