8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91 12 APR 91

File: 970107_aug96_decls2_0053.txt
Page: 0053
Total Pages: 60

Subject: 8TH TANK BN  COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91  12 APR 91     

Unit: 8TH TANK BN 

Parent Organization: 2 MARDIV    

Box  ID: BX600007

Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991                                           

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:          5








                                                                                     1500
                                                                                     ADMIN
                                            UNCLASSIFIED                             17 Mar 1991

               From- AT (TOW) Company Commander
               To.    Battalion Historical Officer


               Subj:  COMMAND CHRONOLOGY

               Ref:   MCO 5750.IF


               Anti-Tank (TOW) Company, Sth Tank Battalion, 2d Marine Division (26 Noy 1990
               to 16 Mar 1991)


               A. PHASE 1: 26 Nov to 21 Dec 1990 - Activation and movement to SWA

               Activation - TOW Company activated 26 Nov and deployed to Camp Lejeune, North
               Carolina on 26 Dec 1990 with 209 officers and Marines, as part of the Eighth
               Tank Battalion for Operation Desert Shield.

               Problems:

               1) Lack of support from I&I staff contributed to continued problems with
               I)EERS (Dependent Support) and Direct Deposit (pay). These problems would
               continue throughout AT (TOW) Company's deployment to SWA.

               2) 4th Marine Division did not follow their mobilization plan. The TOW
               Company commander had to make the assumption that the company needed to expand
               in order to man a full T/O and T/E company of 72 TOW missile launchers. The
               I&I from Miami had stated that their company could only adequately man
               forty-eight TOW launchers.

               Camp Lejeune, NC - TOW Company moved into new barracks and slept on cots.
               Training consisted of 2d MarDiv classes covering various aspects of SWA. TOW
               Company organized their own ambitious training plan to include: live firing of
               24 TOW missiles, live firing of the MK-19 (40mm) machine guns, forced marches,
perly
               issued and accounted for by company   personnel. TOW Company provided 33
               Marines and officers to augment the   battalion staff and H&S Co.

               B. PHASE II: 22 Dec 1990 - 31 San     1991 - Deployment to SWA, Field Training

               22 Dec - TOW Company arrived in Al Jubail, Sau  di Arabia and promptly moved to
               Camp 15. The company assimilated gear for a 72 TOW missile launcher company
               and expanded from the 36 TOWs used at the Reserve Center in Miami. Most of
               the time in Camp 15 was spent trying to get gear (combat essential).
               Battalion Supply problems were evident.

               27 Dec - TOW Company was visited by the Commandant of the Marine Corps,
               General Gray and the Commanding General of the First Marine Expeditionary
               Force, Lt General Boomer at Camp 15.

               29 Dec - TOW Company started painting vehicles.' Vehicles were issued with
               woodland camouflage pattern. Vehicles were painted a sand color. Over 120


                                                      52
                                            UNCLASSIFIED

Document 60 f:/Week-34/BX600007/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991/8th tank bn command chronology nov 90 to mar 91:01029709504317
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-34
Box ID = BX600007
Unit = 8TH TANK BN
Parent Organization = 2 MARDIV
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991
Folder Seq # = 5
Subject = 8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91
Document Seq # = 1
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 = 02-JAN-1997