XVIII AIRBORNE CORPS

DESERT SHIELD CHRONOLOGY

1-15 January 1991

1 January (C+147) NEW YEAR'S DAY

----- 2d Battalion, 69th Armor (197th Infantry Brigade) completes M-1A1 transition with conclusion of Tank

Table VII gunnery and begins redeploying from range. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 1 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 2 Jan 91]

----- 28th, 41st and 47th Combat Support Hospitals close down to rehearse for future operations; patient flow

diverted to the 46th Combat Support and 85th Evacuation Hospitals. [1st Support Command SITREP 154 (1 Jan 91)]

----- 18th Aviation Brigade reports that blade taping program has completed 21 UH-1H Iroquois and 16 CH-47D

Chinooks. [18th Aviation Brigade SITREP 86 (1 Jan 91)]

----- 618th Engineer Company detached from 20th Engineer Brigade and attached back to 82d Airborne

Division. [20th Engineer Brigade SITREPs 85 (28 Dec 90) and 90 (2 Jan 91)]

Post SITREP, 1 Jan 91]

1200 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, relieves 3d Brigade of the Forward Operating Base BASTOGNE

security mission; 3d Brigade relieves 2d Brigade of the force protection and ammunition supply point security missions; Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, secures Logistical Assault Base OASIS and Company B, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, BASTOGNE. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 146 (1 Jan 91)]

2 January (C+148)

Tactical Assembly Area WENDY. [1st Cavalry Division SITREP 99 (2 Jan 91)]

----- 197th Infantry Brigade resumes task organization after completion of M-1A1 transition. [24th Infantry

Division SITREP, 2 Jan 91]

----- 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, continues M-1A1 equipment draw; Company D turns in fifteen M-1 IP tanks.

[24th Infantry Division SITREP, 2 Jan 91]

----- LTG Calvin Waller (Deputy Commander in Chief, US Central Command) visits 82d Airborne Division.

[82d Airborne Division SITREP 148 (2 Jan 91)]

----- 101st Airborne Division remains at Threat Condition CHARLIE. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 147 (2

Jan 91)]

----- 3d Armored Cavalry issues M-1A1 Heavy Armor tanks to two troops in 1st Squadron. [XVIII Airborne Corps

SITREP, 3 Jan 91]

0120 PFC Jeffrey Piercey (44th Chemical Company) suffers

hand, face and eye injuries at TL 164557 when mirror of bus he is driving back from King Khalid Military City is struck by passing Saudi vehicle.

3 January (C+149)

----- 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, moves M-1A1 tanks to range; Company D draws eleven M-1A1 tanks. [24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 3 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 3 Jan 91]

Airborne Division SITREP 148 (3 Jan 91)]

----- Company B, 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation, relieves Company A of the same battalion as the ready

company at Forward Operating Base BASTOGNE. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 148 (3 Jan 91)]

----- 265th Engineer Group assuming engineer missions in King Khalid Military City; assumes attachment of 62d

Engineer Battalion. [20th Engineer Brigade SITREP 92 (4 Jan 91)]

0420Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #46 detaches the 92d Engineer Battalion from the 20th Engineer Brigade

and transfers it to VII Corps effective 1200Z on 3 January 1991.

0955 XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post begins three-day field training exercise by

reestablishing communications at UK 837509 only 25 minutes after arriving at site. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 130 (3 Jan 91)]

1130 Two soldiers from 20th Engineer Battalion (937th Engineer Group, 20th Engineer Brigade) are injured

at TL 253517 when an AT-4 rocket explodes inside a tent during training.

1700Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #47 relieves the Reconnaissance Platoon (Fox) of the 92d Chemical

Company from attachment to the 101st Airborne Division and attaches it to the 82d Airborne Division effective 1500Z on 6 January 1991.

4 January (C+150)

----- XVIII Airborne Corps initiates combined planning with French forces; following briefing to the commander

of French forces in Saudi Arabia, a liaison team remains at Dragon City. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 4 Jan 91]

----- 2d Battalion, 505th Infantry, assumes responsibility for the Quarry Ammunition Supply Point. [XVIII

Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP, 4 Jan 91]

----- 1st Cavalry Division reports that the 1st Brigade has closed one armor battalion and one field artillery

battalion into Tactical Assembly Area WENDY. [1st Cavalry Division SITREP 101 (4 Jan 90)]

----- 1st Battalion, 64th Armor, completes Tank Table VII gunnery; 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, begins gunnery.

[24th Infantry Division SITREPs, 3, 4 and 5 Jan 91]

to Camp EAGLE II. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 149 (4 Jan 91)]

----- Company D, 522d Military Intelligence Battalion, assumes operational control over ODA 331. [525th

Military Intelligence Brigade SITREP 94 (4 Jan 91)]

0100 XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post "Blue" element is operational after night displacement

during field training exercise; assumes control at 0835 after displacement of night shift personnel from "White" element. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 131 (4 Jan 91)]

5 January (C+151)

----- 1st Cavalry Division reports as additional closures into Assembly Area WENDY the 1st Brigade's forward

support battalion and a FAST of the Division Support Command's 27th Support Battalion (Main). [1st Cavalry Division SITREP 102 (5 Jan 91)]

----- 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, and Troop D, 4th Cavalry, conduct Tank Table VII gunnery. [24th Infantry

Division SITREP, 5 Jan 91]

----- 24th Infantry Division reports that by this date 209 M- 1A1 tanks had been issued; 217 M-1 IP and 11 M-

60A3 tanks turned in. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 6 Jan 91]

----- 2d Battalion, 505th Infantry, assumes theater ammunition supply point guard mission. [82d

Airborne Division SITREP 151 (5 Jan 91)]

----- Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry, deploys with 101st Airborne Division Support Command elements

to King Khalid Military City to secure Logistical Site ROMEO near Logistical Base BRAVO. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 150 (5 Jan 91)]

----- 1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery, assumes guard duty at Ammunition Supply Point SKIBBIE. [XVIII

Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 5 Jan 91]

----- 20th Engineer Brigade reports that it took nine days to move the 46th Engineer Battalion to King Khalid

Military City (NR 670800). [20th Engineer Brigade SITREP 93 (5 Jan 91)]

----- 35th Signal Brigade reports that a corps area signal center has deployed to King Khalid Military City

to support the XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post. [35th Signal Brigade SITREP, 5 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 6 Jan 91, identifies the center as 43]

----- 10th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital main body arrives at

CEMENT CITY; equipment due to arrive in theater on 8 January. [1st Support Command SITREP 159 (6 Jan 91)]

----- Bases D-4, D-13, M-2 and Y-2 established. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP, 5 Jan 91]

0007 XVIII Airborne Corps "White" Tactical Command Post goes operational.

0500 XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post field training exercise terminates; "Blue" element

begins redeployment. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 132 (5 Jan 91)]

0700 Advance detachments of Headquarters Detachment, 18th Personnel Group, 129th Postal Company, 573d

Personnel Service Company, and 19th Replacement Detachment depart for DESERT STORM positions. [18th Personnel Group SITREP 96 (5 Jan 91)]

1030 XVIII Airborne Corps "White" Tactical Command Post closes back into CHAMPION MAIN. [XVIII Airborne

Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 132 (5 Jan 91)]

1431 Two soldiers from Battery B, 2d Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery are injured when a 5-ton fuel

truck overturns on Main Supply Route MERCEDES.

1800 82d Airborne Division Support Command convoy departs CHAMPION MAIN carrying the Unit Basic Load (UBL)

of ammunition for the 2d Brigade to Logistical Base BRAVO (NR 646602).

2219 Convoy of Headquarters Company, 1st Cavalry Division, scheduled departure time for Assembly Area WENDY.

[1st Cavalry Division SITREP 101 (4 Jan 91)]

6 January (C+152)

----- Forward Operating Base OASIS is closed. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 151 (6 Jan 91) says that

the 3d Brigade's logistical assault base is closed and all personnel and equipment recovered to Camp EAGLE II]

----- Lead serial of 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, initiates movement to Tactical Assembly Area

WENDY. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 7 Jan 91]

----- 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, and Troop D, 4th Cavalry, conduct Tank Table VII gunnery. [24th Infantry

Division SITREP, 6 Jan 91]

----- 3d Platoon, 92d Chemical Company, released from attachment to the 101st Airborne Division and

transferred to the 82d Airborne Division. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 152 (7 Jan 91)]

----- Main body of 251st Rear Area Operations Center arrives in theater at Dhahran. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear

Command Post SITREP, 6 Jan 91]

----- 533d Transportation Company (46th Support Group) is

displacing forward. [1st Support Command SITREP 159 (6 Jan 91)]

----- 431st Medical Detachment and 36th Medical Detachment

begin deploying to King Khalid Military City. [1st Support Command SITREP 159 (6 Jan 91)]

0440 44th Medical Brigade Jump Tactical Operations Center,

advance detachment of the 74th Medical Detachment, and advance detachment of 257th Medical Detachment depart the M&M Compound for King Khalid Military City. [1st Support Command SITREP 159 (6 Jan 91)]

0800 Liaison officer teams exchanged between XVIII Airborne Corps and I Marine Expeditionary Force are

withdrawn.

1200 Battery A, 2d Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery, and Battery B, 3d Battalion, 43d Air Defense

Artillery, terminate air defense missions to prepare for movement. [Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP 61 (6 Jan 91)]

7 January (C+153)

----- 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, and Troop D, 4th Cavalry, conduct Tank Table VII gunnery. [24th Infantry

Division SITREP, 7 Jan 91]

----- 24th Infantry Division turns in 14 M-1 IP tanks and draws 15 M-1A1 tanks; this concludes division's

turn-in of M-1 IPs with a total of 235 turned in along with eleven M-60A3s. [24th Infantry Division SITREPs, 7 and 8 Jan 91]

----- 101st Airborne Division moves elements of the 887th Engineer Company and 2d Battalion, 44th Air

Defense Artillery, to Logistical Base ROMEO. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 152 (7 Jan 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 8 Jan 91]

----- 101st Airborne Division releases its liaison officer from I Marine Expeditionary Force, LTC (USMC]

Shores. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 152 (7 Jan 91)]

----- 3d Armored Cavalry has new equipment transition to

M-1A1 (Heavy Armor) on hold because of a lack of heavy equipment transporters. [3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 7 Jan 91]

----- 75th Field Artillery Brigade moves 1st Battalion, 17th

Field Artillery and 5th Battalion, 18th Field Artillery to FEISAL Range in preparation for a live fire exercise. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 7 Jan 91]

----- 212th Field Artillery Brigade moves 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery to Assembly Area COURAGE. [XVIII

Airborne Corps SITREP, 7 Jan 91]

----- Battery A, 2d Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery, and Battery B, 3d Battalion, 43d Air Defense

Artillery, complete movement (respectively) to Logistical Assault Base OASIS and King Khalid Military City. [Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP 62 (7 Jan 91)]

0700 XVIII Airborne Corps relieves Rear Command Post of responsibility to serve as alternate command post

until relocation to King Khalid Military City completed. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP, 7 Jan 91]

0945- BG Edison Scholes visits 24th Infantry Division. [24th 1300 Infantry Division SITREP, 7 Jan 91]

1145 293d Military Police Company (519th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade) rolls

over at UK 634653 injuring three soldiers.

2002 Aviation Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, departs for Assembly Area WENDY. [1st Cavalry Division SITREP

105 (8 Jan 91)]

2015 Two soldiers of the 2d Battalion, 18th Field Artillery (XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery) have a fight at

the Corps Artillery Saudi Arabian National Guard compound resulting in one soldier being stabbed.

2100 101st Airborne Division granted access permanently on tactical satellite at 72 degrees east, greatly

facilitating division command and control. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 152 (7 Jan 91)]

2226 Six Iraqi Mi-8 HIP helicopters cross border into Saudi Arabia seeking asylum. All subsequently land at

Khafji.

8 January (C+154)

----- XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post tests its load plan at CHAMPION MAIN. [XVIII Airborne Corps

Tactical Command Post SITREP 135 (8 Jan 91)]

----- 5th Squadron (-), 6th Cavalry, relieves 3d Battalion

(-), 227th Aviation, at Forward Operating Base BASTOGNE, with Troop C assuming the ready company mission. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 153 (8 Jan 91)]

----- 1st Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry, receives its last M- 1A1 (Heavy Armor) tanks and 2d Squadron receives

its first eight. [3d Armored Cavalry SITREP, 11 Jan 91]

----- 1st Support Command units moving to King Khalid Military City include Headquarters and

Headquarters, 62d Medical Group; 29th Transportation Battalion; 602d Maintenance Company; and 62d Supply and Service Company. [1st Support Command SITREP 161 (8 Jan 91)]

----- 300th Postal Company (-) departs for Tactical Assembly Area WENDY leaving 2d Platoon continuing to

provide direct support to the 24th Infantry Division. [18th Personnel Group SITREP 99 (8 Jan 91)]

----- LT Irene A. Carrillo of the 786th Medical Detachment (44th Medical Brigade) attempts suicide at King

Khalid Military City.

0555 SPC Bruce W. Hoover of Dragon Brigade accidentally shoots himself in the leg at CAMP BREDE (Base E-1).

0600 101st Airborne Division adopts Threat Condition BRAVO. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 153 (8 Jan 91)]

0700 Advance detachment of XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post departs Camp BREDE for King Khalid Military

City. [XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP, 8 Jan 91; 16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 113 (8 Jan 91) adds that escort was the 320th Military Police Company]

0400Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #48 detaches 1st and 2d Platoons, 300th Postal Company from the 18th

Personnel Group and attaches them to the 1st Cavalry Division effective 0900Z on 10 January 1991. Further directs that a detachment of the 2d Platoon be further attached to Tiger Brigade [1st Brigade, 2d Armored Division] per FRAGO #42.

0410Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #49 releases corps military police companies from attachment to the 82d and

101st Airborne Divisions and returns them to 16th Military Police Brigade control effective 1500Z on 9 January 1991.

1100 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, departs for Assembly Area WENDY. [1st Cavalry Division SITREP 105 (8

Jan 91)]

1300Z USARCENT Warning Order 1 to FRAGO 91-2 to Operations Order DESERT SHIELD 003 is issued.

1325Z XVIII Airborne Corps issues Warning Order to the 101st Airborne Division to prepare to move air assault

brigade task force to King Khalid Military City. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 153 (8 Jan 91) says that warning order is received at 1602]

1630Z USARCENT FRAGO #3 to Operations Order DESERT SHIELD 003 directs XVIII Airborne Corps to deploy on order an

airborne brigade task force to Thumama.

1630Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #50 implements ARCENT FRAGO 90-3 by directing the 82d Airborne Division to

dispatch a Division Ready Brigade to Thumama not later than 1700C on 10 January 1991 to interdict terrorist activities and protect U.S. installations in the Riyadh area from possible terrorist attack. Requires the first Division Ready Force to arrive at Thumama not later than 1700C on 9 January 1991. This force is detached from XVIII Airborne Corps and attached to ARCENT upon closure of the first Division Ready Force at Thumama. Additionally detaches the 475th Engineer Detachment (Fire Fighting) from the 20th Engineer Brigade and attaches it to the 82d Airborne Division not later than 2359C on 8 January 1991. [Also see 20th Engineer Brigade SITREP 99 (11 Jan 91) that states that two crash-fire-rescue trucks departed Dhahran at 0800 on 11 January to relieve the 89th Engineer Detachment at Thumama]

2330 82d Airborne Division Tactical Command Post closes into Thumama (PN 8545).

9 January (C+155)

----- 1st Cavalry Division reports that the division Tactical Command Post and the 312th Military Intelligence

Battalion are fully closed into Tactical Assembly Area WENDY, and that the 1st Brigade is 90% closed. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 9 Jan 91]

----- Troop D, 4th Cavalry, completes Tank Table VII gunnery and returns to 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry. [24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 9 Jan 91]

----- 2d Battalion, 504th Infantry, relieves 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division, of theater ammunition supply

point guard mission. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 155 (9 Jan 91)]

----- XVIII Airborne Corps gives verbal warning to 101st Airborne Division to be prepared to execute

detachment of a brigade task force to execute the VII Corps mission of defending Hafar al Batin and King Khalid Military City, and the Wadi al Batin avenue of approach, with instructions for the lead elements to be en route not later than 0400Z on 10 January and for the whole task force to be closed in not later than 1600Z on 12 January; accordingly division published FRAGO 91-46 giving the mission to the 2d Brigade and having the lead elements ready to execute on two hours' notice. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 154 (9 Jan 91)]

----- 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry, redeploys to Area of Operations NORMANDY. [101st Airborne Division

SITREP 154 (9 Jan 91)]

----- 16th Military Police Brigade briefs battalion commanders on brigade OPORD 91-1 (Movement

Operations). [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 114 (9 Jan 91)]

0030 82d Airborne Division convoy with the 3d Battalion, 505th Infantry departs CHAMPION MAIN for Thumama.

0300 82d Airborne Division convoy carrying 294 personnel departs CHAMPION MAIN for Thumama.

0945 Company C, 307th Engineer Battalion (82d Airborne Division) departs CHAMPION MAIN for Thumama.

1300 3d Brigade Task Force of the 82d Airborne Division attached to ARCENT. [82d Airborne Division SITREP

156 (10 Jan 91)]

1005Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #51 directs the 101st Airborne Division to be prepared to detach one air

assault brigade task force to the tactical control (TACON) of VII Corps to block the Wadi Al Batin avenue of approach and protect the logistics bases and facilities in the Hafar Al Batin-King Khalid Military City area, and to have that task force capable of closing into Tactical Assembly Area HENRY within 48 hours of receiving an execution order.

1140Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #53 releases Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 2d Chemical Battalion

and the 181st Chemical Company from Dragon Brigade effective 2100Z on 8 January 1991. Attaches Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 457th Chemical Battalion to Dragon Brigade effective upon its arrival in theater and attaches to the battalion the 340th and 181st Chemical Companies.

1500 24th Infantry Division's last fourteen M-1A1s depart port of Dammam. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 9

Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 10 Jan 91]

1205Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #52 detaches the 755th Adjutant General Company (Postal) from the 18th

Personnel Group and attaches it to the 3d Personnel Group effective 0900Z 11 January 1991; simultaneously attaches the 336th Adjutant General Company (Postal) to the 18th Personnel Group (having been detached from the 3d Personnel Group). [Also see 18th Personnel Group SITREPS 101 (10 Jan 91) and 103 (12 Jan 91) which state that the 336th Postal Company was received on 10 January and the 775th Postal Company released on 12 January]

1800 82d Airborne Division convoy departs CHAMPION MAIN for King Khalid Military City.

1510Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #55 places one military police platoon from the 16th Military Police

Brigade in direct support of the 20th Engineer Brigade effective 0900Z on 12 January 1991 with the instruction that it will revert back to 16th Military Police Brigade control upon the initiation of Phase II.

1655Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #54 detaches the 3d Battalion, 18th Field Artillery from attachment to

XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery and attaches it to the 3d Armored Cavalry effective 2101Z on 10 January 1991.

2132 XVIII Airborne Corps receives USARCENT FRAGO #6 to Operations Order DESERT SHIELD 003 directing the

movement of an air assault brigade task force to VII Corps.

2200 On orders of XVIII Airborne Corps, 101st Airborne Division advances to Threat Condition CHARLIE.

[101st Airborne Division SITREP 154 (9 Jan 91)]

1945Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #56 directs execution of FRAGO #51 by directing the 101st Airborne Division

to initiate movement of a brigade task force to Tactical Assembly Area HENRY not later than 0400Z on 10 January 1991 and to have it close not later than 1600Z on 12 January 1991.

----- 142d Signal Battalion (2d Armored Division) begins arriving in theater; will increase 35th Signal

Brigade to six battalions of which this is the second possessing Mobile Subscriber Equipment. [35th Signal Brigade SITREP, 9 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 10 Jan 91]

10 January (C+156)

----- US Air Force's 682d Air Support Operations Center (Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina) attached to Dragon

Brigade. [Permanent Orders 247-05, XVIII Airborne Corps, 16 Jan 91]

----- 1st Brigade, 2d Armored Division, completes brigade breaching attack field training exercise. [1st

(Tiger) Brigade, 2d Armored Division SITREP, 10 Jan 91]

Armor. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 10 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 11 Jan 91]

----- 2d Battalion, 504th Infantry, turns theater ammunition supply point guard mission over to ARCENT assets.

[82d Airborne Division SITREP 156 (10 Jan 91)]

----- 108th Military Police Company displacing to Riyadh. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 115 (10 Jan

91)]

0620 2d Brigade Task Force of 101st Airborne Division begins movement to Tactical Assembly Area HENRY. [Also

see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 156 (11<1> Jan 91)]

0630 82d Airborne Division convoy arrives at King Khalid Military City.

0400Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO # changes the command relationship of the 12th Aviation Brigade from

being attached to the 101st Airborne Division to being attached to XVIII Airborne Corps and under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division. [NOTE DELAY IN ISSUE OF THIS ORDER].

0800 24th Infantry Division Rear Command Post departs. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 10 Jan 91]

0800 Task Force 1-18 Infantry begins live fire breaching demonstration at SLEDGEHAMMER Range. [24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 10 Jan 91]

1015 SGT Gary L. Grigory of Company A, 20th Engineer Battalion is seriously injured when he is run over

by a road grader.

1115 First aircraft supporting movement of 101st Airborne Division takes off.

1645 3d Brigade Task Force from 82d Airborne Division closes into Thumama. [Also see 82d Airborne Division

SITREPs 155 and 156 (9 and 10 Jan 91) which indicate that Task Force 3-505 and the lead elements of Task Force 1-17 Cavalry closed into Thumama on 9 January and the remainder of the force by 1645 on 10 January, and that as of 2400 on 9 January one company was on a 30-minute strip alert]

1430Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #59 directs the 1st Cavalry Division to begin planning for the on order self-deployment of Tiger Brigade [1st Brigade, 2d

Armored Division] and supporting elements to Abu Hadriyah under the tactical control of USMARCENT, and announcing that USARCENT Support Command will assume administrative and logistical support for the brigade upon its arrival.

1750 Tactical Command Post of 101st Airborne Division closes into King Khalid Military City Airfield. [101st

Airborne Division SITREP 156 (11<2> Jan 91); XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 11 Jan 91 which gives time as 1450Z]

1940 24th Infantry Division Rear Command Post closes at TL 611017. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 10 Jan

91]

1715Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #59 clarifies FRAGO #41 by directing that it is effective 1500Z on 11 January

1991.

----- Debates over the Gulf crisis begin in both the House

and Senate.

11 January (C+157)

----- 3d Battalion, 73d Armor, completes M-551A2 Tank Table VI gunnery and begins redeployment to CHAMPION

MAIN. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 157 (11 Jan 91)]

----- BG Mouscardes of 6th (French) Light Armored Division visits Camp Eagle II. [101st Airborne Division

SITREP 156 (11<3> Jan 91)]

----- 5th Squadron, 6th Cavalry, deploys to Area of Operations NORMANDY (TL 344545). [101st Airborne

Division SITREP 156 (11<4> Jan 91)]

----- Company B, 3d Battalion, 227th Aviation, recovers to Camp EAGLE II. [101st Airborne Division SITREP

156 (11<5> Jan 91)]

----- 3d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, relieves 1st Battalion, 39th Field Artillery, of guard

responsibility at Ammunition Supply Point SKIBBIE. [XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery SITREP, 11 Jan 91]

----- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, begins displacing to King Khalid

Military City. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 116 (11 Jan 91)]

----- Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 160th Military Police Battalion, and 810th Military

Police Company (received back under brigade operational control this morning) are displacing to Logistical Base BRAVO, the latter to secure 20th Engineer Brigade site. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 116 (11 Jan 91)]

----- 210th Military Police Company returns to 16th Military Police Brigade operational control. [16th

Military Police Brigade SITREP 116 (11 Jan 91)]

----- Advance detachments of 21st and 65th Military Police Companies depart, respectively, for TJ 961677 and

Al Artawiyah. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 116 (11 Jan 91)]

0750 101st Airborne Division reports closure into Tactical Assembly Area HENRY for: 1st Battalion, 502d

Infantry; 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery; Company B, 326th Engineer Battalion; Battery B, 2d Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery; and military intelligence, signal and chemical elements.

1245 1st Cavalry Division turns control of the division over to the Tactical Command Post as the Main Command

Post begins movement to Tactical Assembly Area WENDY.

1320 101st Airborne Division reports that all of its self- deploying helicopters involved in the brigade

movement have departed King Fahd International Airport.

1408 Company B, 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation (101st Airborne Division) has a CH-47D catch fire and

execute emergency landing at QR 490750. Six soldiers are injured; helicopter and cargo of an M-102 howitzer and High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle prime mover totally destroyed.

1700 SPC Daryl A. Allen of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery

accidentally shoots himself in leg at TL 201500.

1800 12th Aviation Brigade changes from attachment to the 101st Airborne Division to merely being under the

operational control of the division. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 157 (12 Jan 91)]

2218 Aviation element of 101st Airborne Division's 2d Brigade Task Force closes into Tactical Assembly

Area HENRY.

12 January (C+158)

----- 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, picks up battalion set of counter-mine equipment at port of Dammam;

will pick up a second set on 16 January and nine sets of mine rakes for their combat engineer vehicles on 14 January. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 12 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 13 Jan 91]

----- 326th Engineer Battalion (82d Airborne Division) receives six Flipper mine systems and completes

new equipment transition training. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 158 (12 Jan 91)]

SITREP 157 (12 Jan 91)]

----- MG Peay directs 101st Airborne Division to implement plans for local dispersal of aircraft not later

than 1245C on 13 January. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 157 (12 Jan 91)]

----- 3d Battalion, 327th Infantry, closes into Logistical Assault Base OASIS in preparation for redeployment

to Camp EAGLE II, leaving 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry, securing OASIS and Forward Operating Base BASTOGNE. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 157 (12 Jan 91)]

----- 503d Military Police Battalion and main bodies of the 21st and 65th Military Police Companies displace.

[16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 117 (12 Jan 91)]

----- 18th Aviation Brigade reports that blade taping program has completed all UH-1H Iroquois, but still has 24

CH-47D Chinooks to finish. [18th Aviation Brigade SITREP 96 (12 Jan 91)]

----- 35th Signal Brigade reports tactical communications established to support the XVIII Airborne Corps

Rear Command Post at King Khalid Military City. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 12 Jan 91]

0514 101st Airborne Division reports that all of the 2d Brigade Task Force has closed into Tactical

Assembly Area HENRY vicinity of Al Qaysumah under tactical control of the 1st Cavalry Division: brigade tactical operations center at PS 10373399; 1st Battalion, 502d Infantry, at NS 989459; 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry at PS 1100364; 3d Battalion, 502d Infantry, at PS 107365; 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery at PS 095350; 2d Battalion, 229th Aviation at NS 470130; Task Force 9-101 Aviation at NS 410040; total combat strength of task force includes 18 AH-64 Apaches, 60 TOWs, 17 M-102 105mm howitzers, 12 81mm mortars, 18 60mm mortars, 20 Stinger teams, 6 Vulcans, and 54 DRAGONs. [Also see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 157 (12 Jan 91) which gives closure as 0452; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 12 Jan 91]

0600Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #57 directs the reallocation of Arabic linguists and allocates Kuwaiti

linguists within XVIII Airborne Corps.

1140 PV2 Dennis Smith of the 3d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery accidentally shoots himself while on

guard duty at Ammunition Supply Point SKIBBIE (TL 695386).

1200 24th Infantry Division reports that it has initiated Mission Oriented Protective Posture Level 1, and

that all personnel are wearing Kevlar body armor and helmets. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 11 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 12 Jan 91]

1400Z XVIII Airborne Corps Rear Command Post becomes operational at King Khalid Military City. [XVIII

Airborne Corps Rear Command Post SITREP, 12 Jan 91]

1800 129th Postal Company turns APO 09657 over to 336th Postal Company; 573 Personnel Service Company

turns non-divisional unit mission over to 425th Personnel Service Company. [18th Personnel Group SITREP 103 (12 Jan 91)]

ca1500Z Main Command Post of 1st Cavalry Division closes into Tactical Assembly Area WENDY. [XVIII Airborne

Corps SITREPs, 12 and 13 Jan 91]

----- 82d Airborne Division prints final training statistics for deployment in 82d Airborne Division SITREP 158

(12 Jan 91):

Flying hours: AH-1E 542.0

AH-64 1213.3

OH-58C 1822.7

OH-58D 1810.5

UH-60 4025.1

EH-60 279.4

Ammunition expended: TOW 69

DRAGON 58

AT-4 50

LAW 260

152mm 50

105mm HE 12,175

81mm HE 2,556

60mm HE 869

----- United Nations Secretary General Perez de Cuellar meets

in Iraq with Saddam Hussein. Meetings continue on 13 January as well.

----- United States closes embassy in Baghdad.

13 January (C+159)

Airborne Corps SITREP, 13 Jan 91]

----- XVIII Airborne Corps reports main battle tank upgrade program for the corps completed this day. [XVIII

Airborne Corps SITREP, 13 Jan 91]

----- 1st Brigade (-), 24th Infantry Division moves to Assembly Area LIBERTY with all battalions

reporting closure. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 13 Jan 91]

----- 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, completes Tank Table VII

gunnery. [24th Infantry Division SITREPs, 10-14 Jan 91]

----- 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, moves to Assembly Area VANGUARD. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 13 Jan

91]

----- 82d Airborne Division reports going 113 days without a fatality. [82d Airborne Division SITREP 159 (13

Jan 91)]

outpatients treated. [1st Support Command SITREP 166 (13 Jan 91)]

----- 16th Military Police Brigade reports that the 160th and 759th Military Police Battalions and the 21st,

65th and 810th Military Police Companies have closed into their new locations. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 118 (13 Jan 91)]

----- 519th Military Police Battalion displacing to Forward Operating Base BASTOGNE, 209th Military Police

Company to TK 539637, and 293d Military Police Company to TL 485385. [16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 118 (13 Jan 91)]

0340 SGT Jeffrey E. Mullin of Troop E, 2d Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry found dead at AHMED Range (TL

237838).

0500 Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery has Mobile Kitchen Trailer (MKT)

totally destroyed in fire while preparing breakfast.

1420 High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle from Company D, 5th Engineer Battalion (24th Infantry Division)

collides head-on with tractor-trailer from the 4th Transportation Battalion while travelling westbound on the Tapline Road, resulting in one killed and two injured.

1200Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #60 detaches the 1st Cavalry Division (-) from XVIII Airborne Corps for

attachment to US Army Central Command and the 43d Support Group (-) from the 1st Support Command (XVIII Airborne Corps for attachment to the US Army Central Command Support Command, both effective 1200Z on 13 January 1991. Additionally detaches the 1st Brigade, 2d Armored Division (reinforced) from attachment to the 1st Cavalry Division and attaches it directly to XVIII Airborne Corps as a separate brigade effective 1500Z on 12 January 1991.

1640Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #61 announces the establishment by United States Army Central

Command of the theater Communications Zone effective 2100Z on 9 January 1991.

14 January (C+160)

----- XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post (at CHAMPION MAIN) receives bulk of its wartime augmentation

personnel from the Main Command Post. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 141 (14 Jan 91)]

--- 1st Brigade, 2d Armored Division, recovering from brigade breaching attack field training exercise

and in process of closing into Tactical Assembly Area TIGER near Kabrit (QS 8615), with combat service support and command and control elements to begin movement in earnest on 15 January with closure to occur on 18 January. [1st (Tiger) Brigade, 2d Armored Division SITREP 5, 14 Jan 91]

----- 2d Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, establishes tactical operations center in Assembly Area

VANGUARD (TL 495937). [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 14 Jan 91]

----- 197th Infantry Brigade moves to Assembly Area HAMMER (TK 730970). [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 14

Jan 91]

----- 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry (1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division) establishes Assembly Area CHUCK. [24th

Infantry Division SITREP, 14 Jan 91]

----- 82d Airborne Division issues FRAGO 2 to OPLAN 18-90, establishing a requirement for rapid response

force for King Fahd International Airport (one company on six-hour notice, one battalion on twelve-hour notice). [82d Airborne Division SITREP 160 (14 Jan 91)]

----- GEN Schwarzkopf visits 101st Airborne Division. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 159 (14 Jan 91)]

0700 Battery A, 3d Battalion, 43d Air Defense Artillery, departs for King Khalid Military City (NR 642804).

[Task Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP, 14 Jan 91]

1200 XVIII Airborne Corps Main Command Post goes to wartime manning.

1430 24th Infantry Division begins map exercise of operations plan. [24th Infantry Division SITREP,

14 Jan 91]

1530- GEN Schwarzkopf visits 24th Infantry Division. [24th 1650 Infantry Division SITREP, 14 Jan 91]

1600 212th Field Artillery Brigade closes into Tactical Assembly Area BARBARA (TL 560230). [24th Infantry

Division SITREP, 14 Jan 91]

1631 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, tactical operations center closes into Tactical Assembly

Area LIBERTY (TL 625252). [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 14 Jan 91]

2030 Battery A, 3d Battalion, 43d Air Defense Artillery, closes into King Khalid Military City. [Task

Force 2-1 Air Defense Artillery SITREP 70 (15 Jan 91)]

15 January (C+161)

----- XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post (strength of 27 officers, 2 warrant officers, and 140 enlisted

personnel) conducts internal map exercise of OPLAN DESERT STORM. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 142 (15 Jan 91)]

----- Team 317, XVIII Airborne Corps History Office, departs Dragon City to provide historical coverage to 24th

Infantry Division, with on-order mission to also cover 3d Armored Cavalry. [XVIII Airborne Corps History Office Files]

----- 24th Infantry Division completes M-1A1 transition gunnery for final three tanks of 3d Battalion,

69th Armor, at FAYSAL Range; range disestablished. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 15 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREPs, 15 and 16 Jan 91]

----- 3d Armored Cavalry receives last eight new M-1A1 Heavy Armor tanks. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 15 Jan

91]

----- Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 503d Military Police Battalion, closes into forward location.

[16th Military Police Brigade SITREP 120 (15 Jan 91)]

0730 573d Postal Service Company, 19th Replacement Detachment and 2d Platoon, 129th Postal Company,

deploy for King Khalid Military City. [18th Personnel Group SITREP 106 (15 Jan 91)]

0630Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #63 detaches the 142d Signal Battalion (less Company A) from the 35th Signal

Brigade and attaches it to the 1st Brigade, 2d Armored Division ("Tiger Brigade") effective 1200Z on 15 January 1991, and concurrently attaches Company A, 142d Signal Brigade directly to the 35th Signal Brigade. [1st ("Tiger") Brigade, 2d Armored Division SITREP 5, 15 Jan 91, identifies that its company of the 142d Signal Battalion has closed into Dammam and is preparing to move forward to join the brigade.]

0834Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #65 directs XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery to detach one task-organized field

artillery brigade [75th Field Artillery Brigade] consisting of a battalion of 155mm self-propelled howitzers, a battalion of 8" self-propelled howitzers, a battery of ATACMS, and a target acquisition battery effective upon the receipt of the order for attachment to VII Corps.

0849Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #66 directs the implementation of the task organization specified in Phase II of XVIII Airborne Corps Operations Plan DESERT STORM effective at 0300Z on 17 January 1991.

0915Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #64 directs the return to 525th Military Intelligence Brigade, effective 1200Z on 16 January 1991, of the intelligence detachments and company teams attached by that brigade to the 24th Infantry Division, 82d Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division.

0945Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #62 detaches Logistics Task Force 43 from the 1st Support Command (Corps) and attaches it to the 1st Brigade, 2d Armored Division ("Tiger Brigade") effective 1300Z on 15 January 1991. Additionally provides the on order mission to detach the brigade and the task force from XVIII Airborne Corps and to attach them respectively to US Army Central Command and US Army Central Command Support Command effective with the closure of the brigade's main command post into their assembly area in the US Marine Central Command sector.

1100Z XVIII Airborne Corps in-theater strength: 98,414. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 16 Jan 91; NOTE: total misleading because of detachments and loss of 1st Cavalry Division]

1400 XVIII Airborne Corps hosts briefing by subordinate division commanders on their DESERT STORM operations plans in the Gavin Room East at Dragon City.

1920Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #67 accelerates the effective time of the implementation of the task organization specified in XVIII Airborne Corps Operations Plan DESERT STORM to 0900Z on 16 January 1991.

2310 18th Personnel Group's Task Force 18 closes at Forward Operating Base STRIKE HARD, raising personnel total of group in forward area to 191. [18th Personnel Group SITREP 107 (16 Jan 91) and 110 (19 Jan 91)]

2400 24th Infantry Division completes displacement into tactical assembly areas. [24th Infantry Division SITREP, 16 Jan 91; XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 16 Jan 91]

16 January (C+162)

0600 Advance detachment of the 12th Aviation Brigade departs for new assembly area in 19 vehicles.

0730 Lead wheeled elements of Tiger Brigade [1st Brigade, 2d Armored Division] begin movement to Tactical Assembly Area TIGER.

0900Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #68 detaches the AN/TPQ-36 team belonging to Battery C, 26th Field Artillery from the 3d Armored Cavalry effective 1500Z on 16 January 1991 and returns it to parent unit control.

1145 Quartering party from 82d Airborne Division closes into Logistical Base QUEBEC.

1200 DESERT STORM Phase II task organization goes into effect. [Also see 101st Airborne Division SITREP 161 (16 Jan 91) which says that this looses division the 12th Aviation Brigade, but gains it Battery C, 5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery]

1233 PFC Jackie Stolenberg of Company B, 2d Battalion, 325th Infantry (82d Airborne Division) injured by grenade fragments during Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) training at AYN DAR Range.

1000Z 75th Field Artillery Brigade departs for VII Corps. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 16 Jan 91]

1100Z XVIII Airborne Corps in-theater strength: 100,017. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 17 Jan 91]

1730 Eleven lowboys arrive at CHAMPION MAIN to begin loading of XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post; a twelfth is at port of Dammam to receive vehicles being unloaded from American Condor. [XVIII Airborne Corps Tactical Command Post SITREP 143 (16 Jan 91)]

1730 Headquarters Detachment, 18th Personnel Group (forward element), closes into King Khalid Military City. [18th Personnel Group SITREP 108 (17 Jan 91)]

2030 101st Airborne Division advances to Threat Condition DELTA; division assumes Mission-Oriented Protective Posture Level 0 and begins wearing Kevlar helmets and vests. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 161 (16 Jan 91)]

2200 Selected elements of XVIII Airborne Corps (including Main Command Post) adopt Mission Oriented Protective Posture Level 1, assume threat condition DELTA, and initiate nerve agent pretreatment. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 17 Jan 91]

2200 101st Airborne Division initiates nerve agent pretreatment. [101st Airborne Division SITREP 161 (16 Jan 91)]

2230Z XVIII Airborne Corps FRAGO #69 announces the US Central Command adjustment of US Army Central Command-US Marine Central Command boundaries effective 0900Z on 15 January 1991 and the concurrent transfer to the Marines of the defense in sector responsibilities formerly assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps.

-----French National Assembly approves use of offensive

operations and places French troops under United States control.

2252Z OPLAN DESERT STORM implemented. [XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 17 Jan 91]

LOCATIONS OF FORCES AS OF 0800Z, 16 JANUARY<6>

XVIII Airborne Corps:

Main Command Post Dragon City

Tactical Command Post Champion Main

Rear Command Post NR 530950

24th Infantry Division:

Main Command Post TK 501778

1st Brigade (+) TL 624249 (TAA LIBERTY)

2d Brigade (-) TL 495937 (TAA VANGUARD)

197th Infantry Brigade TK 746981 (AA COLUMBUS)

82d Airborne Division:

Division (-) Champion Main (Umm As Sahik)

2d Brigade Falcon Base (Ab Qaiq)

3d Brigade Thumama Airfield

Aviation Brigade Al Hufuf

101st Airborne Division:

Division (-) AA EAGLE

Assault CP TL 500430 (FOB BASTOGNE)

1st Brigade CP QR 835687

2d Brigade TAA HENRY

12th Aviation Brigade TL 500430 (FOB BASTOGNE)

Tiger Brigade Moving to TAA TIGER (QS 8615)

3d Armored Cavalry Covering Force Area

Regimental TOC TL 512512

17 January (C+163) D-DAY; WAR BEGINS (separate chronology)

Notes:

<1> Document captioned SITREP 156 (10 Jan 91) but really dated 11 Jan.

<2> Document reads SITREP 156 (10 Jan 91), but is really dated 11 Jan.

<3> Document misdated 10 January.

<4> Misdated 10 January.

<5> Misdated 10 January.

<6> XVIII Airborne Corps SITREP, 16 Jan 91.