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that existed and second to outline the communication architecture
as it developed.

The majority of the battalion personnel arrived in Saudi Arabia
via the airport in Dhahran.   From there bus transportation
conveyed--them to the port of Jubayl.  At the port,-t~e MPS
off-load was conducted and where CG 7th MEB set up his
headquarters.    There also, 9th Communication Battalion
established living and working areas.

The battalion was initially billeted in a large warehouse
immediately of f the waters of the Persian Gulf.   This warehouse
was one of thirteen that lined their way around the pier area.  It
was a very austere existence. Temperatures in the warehouse
soared to over 120 degrees by day and remained over 100 degrees
throughout the night time.    Personnel slept on cots and lived out
of their packs and sea bags.    Personal cleaning facilities were
nearly non-existent.    Fortunately, the BSSG quickly set-up a
shower facility; however,   it rapidly became inadequate as the
force buildup continued.    Laundry was done in a bucket or sent
out to a local civilian cleaner under contract of the BSSG.    It
was not a pleasant experience, but it was probably the only
workable situation under the circumstances of the rapid
deployment.

The Port of Jubayl, which was the battalion's home for over a
month,  is a fully equipped, modern facility.   In size and
capability it rivals many American ports, and it has been
compared to the port of Long Beach.    However, unlike the port of
Thong Beach,  it was a facility that appeared to be tremendously
under utilized.    Consequently, there were many vacant buildings
that were authorized by the port authority for use by Marine
forces.   The battalion set-up its headquarters collocated with
the SRIG headquarters in one of these vacant port buildings.    The
daily battalion functions were conducted from this building.    It
was a three room configuration that housed the 5-1, S-4, CMS, and
the battalion command group.

Another building on the port became the 7th MEB headquarters.   In
that facility,   the battalion S-3 operated in conjunction with the
syscon and techcon functions of the communication control.
Arrayed around this building were the various transmission
equipment including single channel radio, GMF satellite terminals
and GRC-201 systems.    Also, nearby, a tent complex housed the
battalion maintenance facility.

The battalion continued providing communication support from the
port until late November 1990.    However, the other battalion
functions and personnel billeting moved from the port to a camp
called HAIl 5, operated by the Royal Saudi Commission.    The
official Saudi name, HAIl 5, was quickly dropped by the Marines
and the facility was thereafter called Camp 5.

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