7TH ENGR BDE COMMANDER REPT VOL 18A

File: 970815_sep96_decls58_0043.txt
Page: 0043
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







          Engineers began the serious dangerous business of carefully
          inspecting, preparing for demolition, and destroying hundreds of
          enany tanks, trucks, military vehicles, weapons, bunkers, and
          literally hundreds of tons of ammunition. It is a tough mission.
          it will take time. The magnitude is enormous.

               Mail begans to arrive again. It is great to hear from loved
          ones. Again we are amazed at the abundance of mail and gifts
          from people we do not know. All send best wishes, voice their
          support, and pray for our safety and success. over and over we
          know how proud Americans are for what we are doing. The same
          type mail arrives from Germany and our fine neighbors and allies
          there.'-'-@Tfiis provides much comfort.

               The weather warns and the flies arrive in force. Dead
          Iraqis around us began to rot. We can not wait for graves
          registration or recovery teams. The situation become
          intolerable. A burial party is organized and we began to bury
          the Iraqi dead. In some cases only parts of bodies are found.
          This is carried out with dignity and professionalism. It is a
          miserable job. Each grave is marked and the precise location is
          recorded by electronic grid locators. We forward the reports to
          Corps. The flies do not go away.

               I fly south and visit my wounded soldiers in the hospital.
          The hospitals are spotless. My dusty dirty uniform looks out of
          place. All the medical people look clean and fresh. Passing a
          mirror I notice a gaunt, disheveled, and dirty face looking back.
          in the ward my soldiers are well taken care of. Nurses are
          bustling around. Young faces trying to mask pain and show
          courage. We talk quietly. I tell them how proud all of us are
          of them. A young private grabs my hand. Looking into my eyes he
          ask about his friend, his track driver. I quickly glance at the
          head nurse. She nods to me and says, "Ile has been asking for two
          days, we wanted his chain of command to tell him, he is well
          enough." My soldier did not hear her. I grasp his hand firmly
          and say, "Your friend did not make it. He did not suffer and was
          very courageous in performing his duty." I feel a shudder
          through the young soldier. fie looks away. I see a small tear
          run down his cheek. I continue to hold his hand. After a moment
          he turns back and softly says, "Thank you Sir, I wanted to know.
          He was my friend and a good man." I say, "I know."








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