usmcpersiangulfdoc5_062.txt
                                      U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULP, 1990-1991


more than 1,000,000 miles, most of it on unpaved desert roads.  The versatile
LVSs could be configured in flatbed, low boy, tanker, and wrecker modules and
the engines of their Mk 48 tractors were kept running continuously during this
time.  Despite conditions of alternating dust and mud, the LVS turned in a
remarkable 93% serviceability rate.
   As the ground campaign approached, it was increasingly difficult to persuade
civilian drivers of the Baghdad Express to make the run to Kilanjar.  The more
worldly British competed by offering cash bonuses. To keep the wheels turning,
the Marines matched the money and also threw in gas masks and kung~ martial
arts videos.  A total of about 350 drivers, mostly Filipinos, stayed the course.
Even these were not enough.    General Brabham sent out a call for Marines who
could drive, or thought they could drive, a civilian tractor trailer rig.  These
individuals eventually numbered 900 and included Brabham's own driver and
even some Navy dental technicians.     Each went through an ad hoc half-day
driving course at Jubail which concentrated on clutching and gear shifting before
going on their first run.  (U.S. equipment had gone to automatic transmissions
some years earlier.)
   Fortunately the transportation of fuel was less trying for the Marines thanks
to a superb effort by the U.S.      Army 240th Quartermaster Battalion that
CentCom had sent to help.    Calling themselves the "Trucks from Hell," the unit
made many more than 5,000 runs and hauled most of the fuel that went to
Khanjar. Land transportation was not enough by itself, and U.S. Air Force and
Marine C-130 Hercules transports flew 540 missions of high priority cargo such


Marine KC-130R Hercules of Marine Aerial Refueling Transport Squadron 352 delivers last-
minute breaching equipment to `Al Khanjar International" on 23 February 1991. Marine combat
engineers built two 5, 7~foot-long airstrips in only a frw days near the Direct Suppon
Command's giant combat service support base. Most of the 540 aerial suppty mssions to Al
Khanjar were flown by Air Force and Air National Guard C-130s. Aimost all the Marine Hercules
aircrafl were employed in the aerial refl'ellng of Marine jets during the campaign.

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