HQS BN 2ND MARDIV SECTION 2 NARRATIVE SUMMARY

File: 100896_sep96_decls12_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 6

Subject: HQS BN 2ND MARDIV  SECTION 2 NARRATIVE SUMMARY                  

Unit: 2ND MARDIV  

Parent Organization: 2 MEF       

Box ID: BX600014

Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY HEADQUARTERS BATTALION MAR - JUN 1991 1 OF 3                                 

Document Number:          2

Folder SEQ  #:         22




                                         UNCLASSIFIED



                                        SECTION 2


                                    Narrative Summary

          1. Command, Operations, and Training

              The month of March -Found the Division Main CP and Forward CP in
          Al Jahra, Kuwait (grid QT59E3407) and the Division Support Area at
          Kibrit, Saudia Arabia. Though hostilities officially ceased on 28
          February, the very real threat of Iraqi stragglers and LineXploded
          ordnance (estimated at 25,000 cluster bomb units in the Division's
          area) kept Division leaders and personnel cautious.
              Company A and TOW Company again established a perimeter defense
          and 4 traffic control points to restrict access to the CP. Strict
          orders were issued prohibiting souvenir hunting and any movement
          of+ well-traveled routes. These precautions were justified
          tragically on 2 March. A team from the NBC platoon was scouting a
          suspected Iraqi chemical weapons site. One Marine, Sgt Montalvo,
          who was TAD to HqBn from I MEF, stepped on dud ordance which
          exploded, blowing off one leg and inflicting massive -Facial wounds.
          He was helo-medevaced to Lima Company, 2d Medical Battalion, where
          he died on the operating table. Sgt Montalvo's death was the only
          109S Suffered by the 1600 - man Main CP since moving to the field
          in January. This shocking loss, the discovery of additional duds
          just outside our perimeter and the frequent sounds of
          not-so-distant demolitions made the wisdom of Caution apparent to
          all hands. In addition to staying on well-traveled routes, travel
          into built-up areas was restricted to official business only
          because of the numerous reports of Iraqis taking hostages and
          because of the general chaos there. One Marine from 4th Trucks
 up in Kuwait City, where
          he was robbed of his HMMWV and an M60 machinegun. The vehicle and
          machineglkn were found the next day north a+ "Thunderdome" (vic
          OT6357). It had hit a mine and was damaged but repairable. Blood
          stains in the vehicle indicated the thief was in a similar
          condition. All things considered, most Marines were content to sit
          tight, and restricted their sightseeing to daytime helo +lights
          over "Thunderdome" and Al Jahra.
              Retrograde planning began immediately with a G-4 planning
          meeting on I March and a tentative movement date of 4 March. This
          movement date was continually moved back as the Division's mission
          was clarified and the formal ceasefire signing was delayed. The
          Division finally began to retrograde to Al Jubayl (via the coastal
          route through Khafji) on 25 March. The Main CP departed on 29 and
          -'O March (Passover, appropriately) leaving behind detachments of
          4th Truck Company, Communication Company, 4th CAG, 4th MP's, and
          H@4S Company to Support Eighth Marines' (RCT-8) presence mission.
              With the cessation of hostilities the flow of visitors coming
          to the Main and the flow of Marines rearward +or routine admin and
          medical reasons increased significantly, and the Battalion's helo
          landing zone operation evolved into a "+ull-service heliport."


                                        UNCLASSIFIED             Enclosure (1)

                                            5

Document 6 f:/Week-35/BX600014/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY HEADQUARTERS BATTALION MAR - JUN 1991 1 OF 3/hqs bn 2nd mardiv section 2 narrative summary:100196125358
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-35
Box ID = BX600014
Unit = 2ND MARDIV
Parent Organization = 2 MEF
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY HEADQUARTERS BATTALION MAR - JUN 1991 1 OF 3
Folder Seq # = 22
Subject = HQS BN 2ND MARDIV SECTION 2 NARRATIVE SUMMARY
Document Seq # =
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 01-OCT-1996