OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD 82D ENGINEER BATTALION 28 AUG 91

File: 971208_sep96_decls2_0023.txt
Page: 0023
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      






            09 Mar 91: GEN Schwartzkopf meets with representatives of Iraq to
            discuss the signing of truce agreement. The quartering party
            closes at KXMC at 1045. LTG Franks (VII Corps Commanding General)
            visits the 2ACR today. He says that the cease fire will not be
            signed until 22 March or later. The 82nd will stay here for
            another 10-14 days. The 2ACR receives a warning order to move
            north. Commanders are directed to initiate training
            schedules.


            11 Mar 91: Battalion receives order to chop B and D Companies to
            Corps and move west to conduct demo missions. No logistical
            support is provided. The Commander therefore moves the BN (-) which
            is lli!C, B, D west to establish a base. A and C Conpanies remain
            with 2ACR. Upon BN (-) closure and coordination with 7th EN
            Brigade, the S3 moves an additional 80km west and starts destroying
            42 assigned targets. The Battalion is now split into four parts in
            three different countries.



            12 Mar 91: B and D Company are out with the S-3 track performing
            demolition missions to the west. The Battalion gets the official
            word today that personnel can wear the 2ACR patch as a combat
            patch. The Battalion also receives a warning order that it will go
            to the IID sector (northern Kuwait) to perform demolition missions.
            LTC Slattery is already concerned that the Battalion is getting too
            spread out. Word is received at 2200 hours that the Battalion will
            be OPCON to IID. The Commander orders A and C Companies to move
            east at Daybreak to effect a linkup, and the Battalion (-) to close
            on the 2ACR.


            13 Mar 91: B and D Company return to the IIIIC base camp despite
            completing only 60% of their demolition missions. They rest *or
            two hours and then jump as a Battalion (-) to our old base camp in
            Kuwait near the 2ACR. The Commander and the S-3 leave to coordinate
            the IID missions. Meanwhile, A and C Company. who are again under
            Battalion control, move into IID sector.


            14 Mar 91 The Battalion(-) jumps at 0800 and arrives in IID sector
            late in the afternoon. The TOC is set at QT 705205 in northern
            Kuwait (co-located with the 3rd Brigade (2 AD(F), 1 ID). From our
            present location, at a very short distance. one can see about 30 to
            40 oil wells ablaze. These oil wells are in the AR RAWDATAYN and
            SABIRIYAII oil fields. During the day, the sky is filled with dark
            smoke and during the evening its lit with an orange glow. The 82nd
            Engineer Battalion assists in a majority of the work in the IID
            sector, destroying Iraqi military equipment and reporting usable
            equipment and stores to higher Headquarters. Each line company,
            along with D/17th Engineer Battalion, is assigned a zone to clear.
            Altogether the Battalion destroys over 100 targets to include
            tanks, air defense artillery pieces, bunkers, soft skinned
            vehicles, artillery pieces, mortar tubes, engineer equipment.
            buildings and supply depots. The Battalion also reports 114 items
            that may be in usable condition for the Kuwaitis. These items