INTERIM AFTER ACTION REPORT

File: 980404_aug96_sagwi7_0006.txt
Page: 0006
Total Pages: 8
Subject = INTERIM AFTER ACTION REPORT                                     

Box ID = BX000481

Folder Title = COMMAND REPORTS ARCENT MEDICAL LESSONS LEARNED - OPPLAN                                         

Unit = ARCENT      

Parent Org = CENTCOM     










                               DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
                            12TH MEDICAL DETACHMENT (PMS)
                                APO NEW YORK, NY 09772


          AFRD-MD-PMS                                          13 April 1991

          MEMORANDUM FOR CDR, 3RD MEDCOM, ATTN: CPT Hall, APO New York
                           09772

          SUBJECT: Command Report, Operation Desert Storm


          1.  This memorandum constitutes the Command Report of the 12th
          MED DET for Operation Desert Storm through 1 April 1991. it
          follows the order prescribed in the guidance document.

          2. operational Highliahts Narrative. operation Desert Storm
          opened with a bang - low flying planes headed North at 0100 hrs.
          Amid the alarms and excursions for scuds and such, professional
          work continued. Besides continuing surveillance of our own
          camps, inspections of water and ice plants, and field sanitation
          team training, several new events required special work. First,
          we started routine surveillance of the EPW camps during
          construction. As prisoners arrived, it became necessary to
          provide resident inspectors. Major problems included the water
          supply (especially adequate chlorination) and human waste
          disposal. The final system for sewage ended up very similar to a
          design proposed by CPT Dale Johnson, PE, of the 12th MED DET in
          January. Other actions included teaching MP's to use delouser
          machines and the loan of our delousers to supplement the MP's
          assets. There were serious problems with the lindane supply
          because shipment from the U.S. was not anticipated to be needed
          as quickly as the EPW mission developed. Another problem which,
          fortunately, required no action was assay and approval of
          possibly poisoned water wells. We set up the mechanism for
          sending samples by the fastest possible means to Riyadh for assay
          in the laboratories of the Riyadh Military Hospital. Some of the
          supplies and accessories for these assays were furnished by the
          Army Environmental Hygiene Laboratory at our request.

              The last unusual problem was the Kuwait Smoke from the
          burning oil wells. Besides advice and consultations, the 12th
          MED DET sampled breathing zone air of U.S. troops in Kuwait and
          sent these to AEHA for analysis.

          3. operational Difficulties. As during Operation Desert Shield,
          we had major problems with communications and supplies.
          Communications problems slowed our ability to respond to rapidly
          changing situations. Supply problems limited our ability to act.
          Besides our own supplies, shortages included pesticides and field
          sanitation team supplies. Local purchase solved some crises.

              One particularly severe problem was our lack of ability to do