VII CORPS DESERT CAMPAIGN AFTER ACTION REPORT

File: 970815_sep96_decls60_0008.txt
Page: 0008
Total Pages: 21
Subject = VII CORPS   DESERT CAMPAIGN  AFTER ACTION REPORT                

Parent Organization = ARCENT      

Unit = VII CORPS   

Folder Title = MAJOR SUBORDINATE COMMAND HISTORICAL REPORTS-16TH CSG  2                                        

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX000311









      19 Dec 90 - 21 Jan 91
           We provided Command and control for 7 Battalions, COL Link became the
      Cornmunity/Log Base Commander, and we were overall responsible for the
      Defense of the Log Base. LBA grew to a strength of approximately 12000
      soldiers. We encountered a few problems in that this was the first time
      several members of the S-3 staff had even been to the field with the
      group. Understandably there was a learning curve and some growing pains.
      Additionally, the group had never had such a wide Span of Control dealing
      with 7 units. We began conducting missions to support the repositioning
      of forces into their Forward Assembly Areas (FAAs). There were numerous
      SCUD Alerts, False Chemical Alarms, Communication problems with the TASS
      system, and general chaos to make our holiday season interesting. We had
      a great Christmas Party but New Years was just a different calendar to
      work off of. There were many spot reports involving the curiosity of the
      locals, most of them started out describing a white NISSAN Pickup with a
      red stripe. We later learned that almost all Bedouins owned or drove a
      pickup fitting that description. We also conducted various reconnaissance
      missions of LOG BASE ECHO. Another significant date was: 13 Jan 91 The
      fear of a Pre-emptive attack down the Wadi Al Batin to disrupt the
      coalition forces.

           one of the more memorable events at LBA was the interaction we had
      the the ist (UK) AD's Field Force Maintenance Area, (FFMA). This was the
      British equivalent to a Log Base. They established themselves at LBA and
      began to position their war stockpiles. We developed a mutual defense PAC
      with them, we shared information about the upcoming war and possible
      attacks to LBA. Although they fit in with us very well, it took a while
      to figure out how to call them on the telephone, as their system was
      different than ours, but we managed.

           The sequence of events for the beginning of the air campaign were as
      follows:
           a. CPT Call was notified by COL Link around 162300hrs that if you
      were on duty, go to MOPP I and take a PB Pill, all others would go to MOPP
      I at stand-to.
           b. At 170200hrs we received notification from COSCOM SPO that ARCENT
      order 91-1 was in effect.
           c. At 170220 we received notification from COSCOM SPO that over 100
      Tomahawk Cruise Missiles had been launched toward Iraq. We then knew the
      War to Liberate Kuwait had begun.

           19 Jan 91 LBE Jump TOC established operations well forward. We were
      the first in with only 23 people.