7TH ENGR BDE COMMANDER REPT VOL 18A

File: 970815_sep96_decls58_0032.txt
Page: 0032
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








               There are more defections as Iraqi soldiers begin to
          surrender. They bring tales of the horror of being bombed, of no
          food or water and of their cadre killing those who even
          contemplate crossing to the Saudi side. Many are thankful to be
          prisoners for they only want safety, a meal, and one night's rest
          away from bombing and artillery. We find they are quick to talk
          and provide information on their unit, troop disposition,
          strength, and array of their minefields and obstacles.

               I join my intelligence officer on a visit to the local Corps
          Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) holding area. We are able to recover
          valuable,information from captured Iraqi engineers. i.iving
          conditions in the EPW camp are sparse but comfortable and humane.
          As I look closely at our treatment of EPWs there is a strong tug
          at my heart as I consider how they are probably treating our own
          captured pilots.

             Iraq has a dirty history of how it treats captives. I hoped
          our guys could hang on. Kuwaitie interpreters tell us that death
          is better than being taken prisoner by Iraq. I vow to not be
          taken prisoner, at least alive, anyway.

               Our artillery engages the enemy just across the Saudi-Iraq
          border. These raids are carefully planned and occur day and
          night. Patrols cross the border at night conducting
          reconnaissance. Special operations probes deeper in Iraq. The
          focus is precise location of enemy positions. We send terrain
          and soil analysis deep into Iraq on special missions. Engineers
          need to know the terrain and soil consisting. It will aid in
          future construction of main supply routes and hasty airfields.
          We could not dream of the future distances to be covered.

               Silently, at night, engineers began to cut large holes in
          the giant earth berm separating Saudi Arabia and Iraq. These
          holes will open the way for hundreds of fast, deadly, U.S. tanks
          once the attack begins.

                Under the night sky it is cold but I see more sweat
          covering my soldiers. As the giant dozers push down the berm
          each operator knows he may hit a mine or somewhere in the
          darkness ahead an Iraqi soldier could be sighting a rocket
          propelled anti tank weapon at his machine. Both would have
          instant fatal consequences.    But the engineers never falter.
          They hammer away at the berm opening giant passages in dozens of
          locations all across the Corps sector. Nearby their comrades sit
          anxiously in main battle tanks and swift bradley fighting
          vehicles.




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