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File: 971208_sep96_decls2_0005.txt
Page: 0005
Total Pages: 57

Subject = OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD    82D ENGINEER BATTALION  28 AUG 91   

Box ID = BX000301

Folder Title = 82D ENG BN AFTER ACTION REVIEW COMMENTS  5 APR 91                                               

Unit = VII CORPS   

Parent Org = ARCENT      






        Dixie. At first light on the 25th, the Battalion(-) again moved
        out. paralleling the 2ACR RSS. B Company collected the first of
        many EPW (enemy prisoners of war) at 0730, two hours later five
        more, then they received 50 EPW from a C Company squad. Minutes
        later, ten more EPW were added. Meanwhile, the forward squadrons met
        enemy resistance vicinity Objective Merrill. A Company came under
        artillery fire. As the fighting diminished, the large number of EPW
        became the next problem. A Company's lst platoon, led by ILT
        Ketchum, collected 72 EPW, including seven officers. lst platoon
        then went on to destroy Iraqi arms and equipment. C Company
        assisted 3/2 squadron in guarding and transporting over 300 EPW. A
        Company's 3rd platoon had the mission of guarding EPW along the
        screen line. As night falls, A Company and C Company were with
        their respective squadrons on PL Miller. while the rest of the
        Battalion is set at PT 166895. B Company collected three EPW at
        2045, The 2ACR set a defensive screen along the 43 north-south grid
        line for the night. The Battalion received survivability missions
        and organized three teams to support each squadron. ILT Roumell's
        platoon with a dozer and ILT Klem's platoon, with three dozers and
        three ACE from the 84th Engineer Company, were sent to link up with
        C Company. On 260200 Feb, K and M Troops came under attack by the
        50th Armored Brigade, 12th Armored Division (IZ). The dozers were
        pulled back, but C Company's lst squad, 3rd platoon remained on the
        screen line guarding EPW. Contact lasted until morning. At 0830,
        C31 (MI13A2) was reported destroyed during the battle. SOT
                   SGT                         were killed and
                                  were wounded. SPC Dudley   ' who was  5 USC 552
        uninjured, and                searched for medical assistance
        throughout the early morning. I Troop medics evacuated the@b
                                                                          g)t6
        The APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) in which they were ridi          @ed.
        destroyed at PT 419035. Chaplain (CPT) Ken Roberts made an extended
        visit to C Company, then to the wounded at the RSS, to help manage
        the crisis. The rest of the Battalion remained set throughout the
        day and night. A Company was ordered forward to mark a minefield at
        PT 686028. The minefield was covered by direct and indirect fire
        weapons and A Company came under fire from mortars and small arms.
        The Company returned fire and moved through the ambush by breaching
        the minefield. With the assistance of a tank section, the enemy was
        destroyed. During this engagement, SFC Yoho, SSG Kilpatrick, SSG
        Stockton, and SPC Digena distinguished themselves under fire.
                                                      5 U.S.C. 552 @
            At 1215 that same day, B Company collected 77 more Ep 'l-1)'@17)(R)e
        50th Armor Brigade, 12th Armored Division. The EPW included
        thirteen officers (three Majors, two Captains and eight
        Lieutenants). One
              @interrogation by the 502nd MI Company revealed valuable
        information. The 77 soldiers were loaded on two 20 ton trucks and
        transported to the RSS by the B Company EPW team. Throughout the day
        of the 26th, the squadrons, primarily 3/2 ACR, were in constant
        contact with the TAWALKANA Republican Guard Division. C Company's
        platoons defended in their respective sectors. That evening, D
        Company again moved dozers forward to construct survivability
        positions for the squadrons. Also that evening, the Regiment
        prepared and conducted a passage of lines for the two follow-on

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