4 1 AVIATION BATTALION HISTORICAL RECORD OPS

File: 090496_jul96_decls33_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 17
Subject: 4 1 AVIATION BATTALION HISTORICAL RECORD OPS                    

Box  ID: BX001066

Document Number:          9

Folder Title: MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION-4TH BN-1ST AVN REGIMENT                                           

Folder Seq #:         11

Unit: 1ST ID      

Parent Organzation: VII  CORPS  








                                   4-1 RUIRTION BHTTFILION HISTORICHL RECORD
                                      OPERRTION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM




                                  The Battalion Chain of Command was:
                                       CDR:       LTC Philip L Wilkerson Jr.
                                        XO:       MAJ Brenton Jones
                                       CSM:       I SG Harold Murphy
                                        Sl:       CPT Terry Morgan
                                        S2:       2LT Brent Boyd
                                        S3:       MAJ David Waters
                                   Asst S3:       CPT Chris Smith
                                        S4:       CPT Joseph Jellison
                                 BHC Cdr:         CPT Wade Sumerix
                                HHC ISG:          ISG Michael Nficulek
                                 A CO Cdr:        CPT Bryan Bequette
                                A CO ISG:         1SG Thomas Shields
                                 B CO Cdr:        CPT Eric Smith
                                B CO 1SG:         SFC Robert Brower
                                  SVC Cdr:        CPT Jeffrey Sugrue
                                 SVC ISG:         1SG John Johnson




               09 November 1990
                       Companies of the 4-1 Aviation Battalion received notification of deployment to Saudi
               Arabia.
                       At 1700 LTC Wilkerson, 4-1 AVN Battalion Commander, gave a deployment briefing at
               Patton Hall for the battalion and attachments. Items discussed were the Iraqi threat, deployment,
               Code of Conduct, and customs of the Middle East.
               2 AD(FWD), stationed in Germany, was also placed on official alert on this date. 3/B/2-58 (ATS
               platoon), commanded by CPT Jon Kunz.witb I SG Ralph Millard, was attached to 4-1 AVN.

               11 - 31 November
emainder of the month of November was spent conducting training, inventories, and
               the ordering of additional equipment needed for desert warfare. Intense training commenced in
               Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC), weapon marksmanship, and basic combat skills. NBC
               training consisted of classes in the use of the atropine injectors, refamiliaiization with the M17,
               M24, and M43 masks, and instruction in the decontamination of individuals and equipment.
               Instructors conducted classes to familiarize soldiers with the symptoms of various chemical and
               biological agents. Ranges were operated to qualify soldiers with the M9, Ml 6, and M60.
                       Aircrews concentrated on RL progression and night vision goggle tasks. Maintenance
               teams improved aircraft ASE equipment with additions such as improved APR 39's.
                       Companies conducted inventories and ordered additional needed items.nese items
               included a footlocker per person, additional tentage, stores, and sanitation and personal hygiene
               items. Chemical items included fourteen M43 masks, chemical agent monitors, M8AI alarms, and
               batteries. 4-1 AVN BN also received fifteen HMMWV'S, seven M923 5 tons, and exchanged 106
               38's for 106 9mm pistols.
                       All vehicles, airtraft, and ground support equipment went through a thorough maintenance
               inspection. Vehicles were painted in desert camouflage on Thanksgiving day, and all aircraft blades
               received a protective coating that would prolong "blade life" during desert operations.