VII CORPS DESERT CAMPAIGN AFTER ACTION REPORT

File: 970815_sep96_decls60_0021.txt
Page: 0021
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







          out in the desert. Signal doctrine does not include TASS support
          down to battalion or company level in the COSCOM. Yet many
          battalions needed this support because of their vital mission
          (Ammunition, Food, and Fuel). On the 26th of December the C-E
          section became part of the S2/3 section.
          January - February
              As the new year developed so did the C-E section of the 16th
          CSG. We received word of preparations to open a new Log Base NW of
          the town, Hafir Al Batin. On the 15th of January, CPT Call and SGT
          Gray performed a communications recon of the area. Finally wartime
          SOIs became available. The new SOls reduced the hassle of using
          extensive templates. The War started in the early hours of 17
          January. On the 19th of January, SGT Gray and PV2 Stewart left on
          the advance party to set up communications for Log Base Echo. The
          main body arrived several days later. Our section set up or
          coordinated FM, TASS, HF, and WD-1 land line communications in
          support of Log Base Echo (LBE). All units in the 16th CSG received
          a TASS line except the 136 OM Sn. With the start of the war came an
          increased need for reliable communications. The current TASS support
          greatly lacked that stability. FM radio took up the slack as much as
          possible. Over 17 units became part of the LBE FM net. February saw
          an increase in stress while everyone waited for the inevitable
          ground war to start. Bulldozers continually cut the TASS lines to
          TF Bennett. SFC Goin and PV2 Meyer were travelling through Hafir Al
          Batin when a SCUD missile hit nearby. The ground war started on the
          24th of February. During the 100 hours of the ground war the C-E
          section Provided outstanding and reliable communications. Cease-fire
          was called on 28th of February.


          Mar
              March became 'wait for the treaty to be signed* month.
          Occasional communications outages occurred, but for the most part
          communications were very stable. The section began a PT program.
          PV2 Stewart promoted to PFC. SFC Goin coordinated the St. Patrick's
          Day Picnic.