OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD 82D ENGINEER BATTALION 28 AUG 91

File: 971208_sep96_decls2_0011.txt
Page: 0011
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      







             that the U.S. Military does not have a Status of Forces Agreement
             with Saudi Arabia, and that drivers have to pay particular
             attention to Saudi Arabian traffic laws (Even if the locals
             didn't). Today the S-2 provides the Company Commanders with the
             first updated threat analysis on Iraqi defenses and order of
             battle.



             08 Dec 90: CSM Henson coordinates with AAFES-Dhahran to set up and
             operate a PX annex/shopette in the cage at the south end of
             warehouse 16. Delta Company soldiers build a wall to separate the
             PX from the rest of the warehouse and assist in stocking, pricing
             and running cash registers. Army beats Navy. score 30-20,


             09 Dec 90: The fifth and final air lift of 150 soldiers, under the
             control of the Battalion XO, departs Bamberg around 0400 and from
             the Nurnberg Airport around 1000. The flight arrives in Saudi
             Arabia around 2000 hra and they arrive at the port around 2300 hrs.
             The element consists of B Company, and the rest of HHC. At this
             time the entire Battalion (765 soldiers) plus other units are
             housed in warehouse 16 for a total of over 1400 soldiers under one
             roof. The Battalion takes charge of the area to improve sanitation
             conditions. This includes police ol the area, the latrines
             adjacent to the warehouse, and the shower facilities at the end of
             the pier.   Class I is provided by a local catering service that
             feeds over 10,000 soldiers from two locations. They provide hot
             meals at breakfast and supper, with the units providing MRE with a
             supplement at noon. In addition to the required work to maintain
             the area, the soldiers of the Blue Babe are also scrounging wood
             and nails to construct items to make life a bit more tolerable.
             Blue Babe carpenters construct tables, benches, chairs, clothes
             lines and other items that eventually are transported to the first
             base camp. The S-3 acquires a tape on assault breaches filmed at
             the National Training Center and this becomes mandatory viewing for
             all leaders down to squad level.


             10 Dec 90: The Battalion conducts a retreat ceremony to mark the
             closing of the Battalion In country.


             11 Dec 90: Not to be out-done by the Blue Babe Battalion, 7th
             Engineer Brigade holds a retreat ceremony to officially mark the
             Brigade's closure in Saudi Arabia. The Brigade has to borrow the
             National Colors from the Battalion to perform Its ceremony.



             11-16 Dec 90: Now that the Battalion has closed, unit training
             begins in earnest. Units train on maintaining proficiency on NBC
             and individual weapons training and, after a short period of
             acclimation, physical training. The S-2 section constructs a sand
             table depicting what current intelligence said is the most likely
             construction of Iraqi defenses. After numerous briefings and OPD