OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD 82D ENGINEER BATTALION 28 AUG 91

File: 971208_sep96_decls2_0006.txt
Page: 0006
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      






        divisions, IAD and 3AD. A and C Companies were initially given
        missions to support this operation but were not used. At first light
        on the 27th, the Battalion moved out with the Regiment. which is now
        serving as VII Corps reserve, to positions along the 85 east-west
        grid line. A Company's 2nd platoon, led by 2LT Bohon, along with an
        attached smoke platoon from the 171st Chemical Coripany, collected 25
        more EPW. C Company refitted and reorganized after their move. The
        Battalion(-) set at PT 664001, near a shelled out brigade or higher
        command post of the TALAWXANA. B Company collected two EPW from this
        division. On 28 Feb, after the cease fire was ordered by the
        President at 0800 local, A Company and C Company identified and
        destroyed enemy vehicles in their sectors. 2LT Adams supervised the
        destruction of a radar station, a power station, antiaircraft guns,
        and other equipment. The rest of the Battalion remained set and
        prepared for movement into Kuwait. A Company's Ist and 2nd platoons
        captured seven and thirteen EPW respectively. On I Mar, the 82nd
        Engineer Battalion followed the 2ACR into Kuwait (TAA Mexico). D
        Company collected one EPW along the way and he was brought along for
        future processing. A Company and C Company entered Kuwait at about
        0900. The Battalion(-) set at QT 326374, where the companies
        established base camps and prepared for future demolition missions
        to clear the 2ACR sector.


        Follow on Missions.


            The missions of the Battalion became very extensive after the
        cease fire. While in TAA Mexico, the Battalion destroyed all enemy
        equipment in sector. The Battalion sent D Company to Ali Al Salem
        Airfield on the outskirts of Kuwait City to clear unexploded
        ordnance in order to open several emergency operation strips. In
        anticipation of the units withdrawal, the Battalion's heavy
        equipment was sent to KKMC to begin preparation of a 2ACR base camp.
        On 10 Mar, two companies were placed OPCON to the 176th Engineer
        Group to destroy enemy equipment. HIIC, B, and D companies marched
        130 km back into Iraq to destroy equipment in the vicinity of
        Objective Merrill. After only one afternoon of work (destroying 60%
        of the targets), the Battalion was placed OPCON to the Ist Infantry
        Division. B, D, and HHC Companies marched another 130 km back into
        Kuwait while A and C Companies marched 60 km to the north-east
        corner of Kuwait, near the Iraqi border town of Unun Qasr. They were
        followed the next day by the Battalion(-). A Company's first sector
        was in the north where they coordinated with the 4-3 Field Artillery
        to clear a 50 km squared area. Then they moved south into 2-66
        Armor's area where they had another 60 km squared area assigned. The
        Battalion remained in Kuwait until IS Mar where it destroyed enemy
        equipment and ammunition and advised on the destruction of Silkworm
        missiles. On 18 Mar, the entire Battalion marched 130 km to TAA
        Virginia and once again were placed OPCON to the 2ACR. On 23 March,
        the Battalion again hit the road and marched 160 km with the
        Regiment to support their 130 km screen of the demarcation line.

            From 23 March 1991 to 3 April 1991, the time was spent doing
        recovery operations, destroying enemy equipment, and providing
        humanitarian support to Iraqi refugees. A chaplain sponsored trip