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robust system with great depth.   This episode ended with the air
war continuing and the ground forces ready for the assault.  The
next episode would be the actual ground conflict.

                           EPISODE IV

This last episode fortunately never developed into all that was I
feared because of the rapid success of Marine forces attacking I
the Iraqi army in Kuwait.   A long battle was expected with I
several accompanying MEF command post displacements.  Bravo I
Company,  9th Communication Battalion made the first jump through

the breach and set up the MEF main CP communication suite at I
Jabar, Kuwait.   However, the mercurial progress of the battle I
and the ordnance laden battlefield caused the commanding general

to decide to not displace his entire CP forward into Kuwait.  I
Subsequently,  the MEF staff continued to operate from the desert

location in Saudi Arabia and Bravo Company,   9th Communication I
Battalion was recalled shortly after establishing the new CP at I
Jabar Air Base,  Kuwait.

There was great potential for an extra heavy burden upon the I
battalion's logistics components during this phase.  To I
accommodate that likelihood,  the battalion established a I
comprehensive forward deployed logistics base.   The base was I
colocated with the Direct Support Command which was replaced by I
the 2nd Division Support Area in the vicinity of Al Kibrit,  I
Saudi Arabia.   At this location, a halfway point was offered for

resupply convoys destined to support Bravo Company, Ninth I
Communication Battalion as it supported the I MEF command post I
advance into enemy held Kuwait.   This halfway point provided a I
rest stop for drivers and replacement drivers to keep critical I
resupplies moving north. Further, wrecker support, vehicle I
maintenance and limited amounts of highly expendable supplies I
were staged at this logistics base.   This was a vital effort and

served the most forward deployed battalion~operations well.

This episode sa~ th~ communicatioE architectur~ gro~ intn th~ I
larges{ an~ mos{ comple0 o~ th~ entir~ period«   Thi~ wa~ mad~ I
possibl~ no[ onl   becaus~ o'i th~ dedicatio~ oij th~ Marine~ 0/i th~

Nint~ Communicatio~ BattalioE an~ th~ augmentatioE 0/i MPk I
equipmen[ bu[ alsn becaus~ 0/i Eight~ Communicatio~ Battalio~ I
operatinT iE direc[ support«   Th~ prodigiou~ suppor[ Eight~ I
Communicatio~ Battalio~ provide~ towar~ th~ communication~ I
operation~ ha~ alread   bee~ discussed« However1X 0/i equaoo I
importancj wa~ th~ suppor[ tha{ th~ Eigh[h Communicatio~
Battalio~ I
communicatioE-electronic~ maintenancJ platoo~ provide~ iE I
conjunctioE wit~ Nint~ Communication Battalion,  com~-elec[ I

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