4 1 AVIATION BATTALION HISTORICAL RECORD OPS

File: 090496_jul96_decls33_0008.txt
Page: 0008
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  








                                                                   6+3

                 27 February 1991
                         In the early morning hours a 507th medical UH-IV helicopter crashed during an NVG
                 mission, killing three and injuring one.
                         Later that morning the order was again given to move forward, this time to FAA Kuwait
                 One, located at QT 0288, about seventy five kilometers west-nonhwest of Kuwait City. The
                 battalion made ready to move. The convoy SP time was 0800. MAJ Waters, CPT Jellison, 2LT
                 Boyd, and SPC Delma Perry led the battalion convoy from FAA Iraq to FAA Kuwait One. The
                 convoy departed FAA Iraq at 0800 and did not make its first halt until closing with the Bde TAC at
                 approximately 1200 hours. (The Bde TAC was forced to stop its advance approximately twelve
                 hours earlier because of an ongoing battle between US forces and 9th Bde/Tawakalna Division of
                 the Republican Guards.) This marked the battalion's first experience in witnessing the awesome
                 result of our victory over the Republican Guards. The 2nd ACR destroyed all the enemy's tanks,
                 and secondary explosions from unexpended enemy tank ammunition riddled the horizon. While
                 MAJ Waters conducted coordination, 2LT Boyd was briefed on the current enemy situation by
                 MAJ Repya (Bde S-2) and shown, along with CPT Jellison, a fallen Iraqi soldier. MAJ Repya
                 told them that the soldier was killed by fellow Iraqi soldiers who, unlike him, wanted to surrender.
                         'Me convoy started moving again at approximately 1300 hours and passed through the first
                 belt of Iraqi tank positions. As the convoy proceeded through the series of Iraqi positions, they
                 encountered numerous Iraqi personell who appeared to be attempting to surrender. The closest of
                these soldiers was walking around his defensive position and was approached cautiously. MAJ
                 Waters, sitting in the back left seat, secured SPC Perry's M-16 rifle and locked and loaded a
                 round. The lead vehicle stopped abeam the soldier's fighting position. The Iraqi soldier,
                 appearing to be in a daze, looked at the personnel in the lead vehicle, sat down, and started shaking
                 his head. Instead of investigating closer, MAJ Waters decided to check out a nearby MI tank that
                 had broken down. The crew said the Iraqi soldiers which the convoy had encountered had not put
                 up a fight. Major Waters made the decision for the convoy to continue on to Kuwait One and not
                 take EPW'S.
                        -As the convoy pushed forward to Kuwait One, it encountered numerous other surrendering
                 Iraqi soldiers walking along the dirt roads. There were so many that the convoy continued to
                 drive, as the soldiers were unarmed and were waving anything available that was white. The Iraqi
                 soldiers looked nervous, yet appeared relieved that the convoy had arrived. They were also
                 pointing to their mouths, indicating they were hungry. As the convoy passed them, many
                 American soldiers threw the Iraqi soldiers water and MRE'S.
                        Aircraft also began to launch on missions, ferrying supplies and fuel forward in support of
                 the brigade. On one support mission UH-60 aircraft 143 was tasked to sling load fuel blivets
                 forward to PU698040. Weather was overcast with smoke, haze, light rain, and a visibility of less
                 than three miles. Aircraft 143 flew to the drop zone, released the blivet, and started its return leg to
                 ferry more blivets. While enroute,UH-60 aircraft 143 received a mission change over brigade
it to return to the drop zone and move the fuel forward to QUO15880, which
                 was in Kuwait. CW3 Monty requested the enemy situation and was told that the Kuwait drop zone
                 was now under friendly control. UH-60 aircraft 143 returned for the blivet and headed for the new
                 destination. CW3 Monty asked for verification of friendly control and ordered the crewchief and
                 door gunner to have the weapons in the firing position. Enroute, 143 had to maneuver around
                 several vehicles blowing up from secondary explosions, and several hundred Iraqi troops were
                 overflown enroute to the new drop site. Aircraft 143 ended up flying three turns for blivets. It
                 was the first 4-1 Avn Bn UH-60 to fly support missions into Kuwaiti territory.
                        The rear party at FAA Iraq consisted of a flight operations to monitor aircraft movement
                 while supplies, fuel, and passengers were moved forward, and the III/V Pit Leader with four
                 refueling REMTTS. Flight operations continued all day with EH-60's being launched at 1230 for
                 retrans with the main party.

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