7TH ENGR BDE COMMANDER REPT VOL 18A

File: 970815_sep96_decls58_0030.txt
Page: 0030
Total Pages: 49
Subject = 7TH ENGR BDE COMMANDER REPT VOL 18A                             

Parent Organization = ARCENT      

Unit = VII CORPS   

Folder Title = 7TH ENGR BDE-COMMANDER REPT-VOL 18A -FORWARD AND COMMANDERS PERSPECTIVE                         

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX000313








                The enemy can not wait. Our Air Force has already blinded
           his ability to see us, know where we are or what we are doing.
           He must probe our lines. A hot afternoon stillness is broken as
           a SCUD missile is found at a city near our location. It is
           destroyed by Patriot missiles. The war moves closer.

                our Brigade is swamped with now personnel. They are
           assigned in great numbers often as an entire squad or platoon.
           Officers arrive too. These new personnel are well above our
           authorized strength levels. I suspect the reason but ask anyway.
           The answer is simple. These are replacements to fill the ranks
           of expected combat casualties. it becomes clear, somewhere,
           someone e@@6cts combat engineers to take a lot of casualties - of
           all ranks. I watch carefully wondering if a Colonel will arrive
           as my potential replacement.

                The time has come to jump my TAC forward. Our mission will
           be command and control (C2) of engineer assets and to interface
           with the Corps TAC. I want to be as far forward as possible -
           to see and hear the fight. That is the only way to truly command
           on the battle field. Final briefings are given. A small group
           of key officers, NCOS, and enlisted men convoy northward. There
           were farewells and well wishes. It was obvious close friendships
           had been established. As friends bid each other farewell, there
           were warm hugs and wishes of "keep your head down.... be
           careful .... meet you in Kuwait." I wondered how many of us would
           be together again. Confidence in our abilities quickly overcame
           any concerns. The ride is long, dusty, and very rough.

                We operate out of M577 tracked vehicles. Our security is
           two bradley fighting vehicles that we have configured for our own
           use. We move into dug in positions one kilometer from the Iraqi
           border. We are well within his artillery and rocket range.
           Heavy flack jackets are now worn adding even more weight to our
           personal combat loads. Chemical protective suits are never
           beyond arms reach. We fully expect him to hit us with chemical
           munitions at any time.

                Communications are quickly established and as night falls,
           we move about slowly being cautious to avoid noise or revealing
           lights. we are truly dug in, surrounded by tall berms of sand.
           I sense a change in attitude. There is a strained seriousness
           among my staff. All know we are definitely in harms way. There
           are friendly tanks and artillery around us. it is a dark night.






                                          26