AFTER ACTION REPORT I MEF CASUALTY SECTION 9 APR 91

File: 970725_dec96_decls30_0015.txt
Page: 0015
Total Pages: 52
Subject = AFTER ACTION REPORT  I MEF CASUALTY SECTION  9 APR 91           

Parent Organization = MCCDC       

Unit = WDID        

Folder Title = MCLLS SEQUENCE 01058  01059  WDID SWA 0113                                                      

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX600150





                                       UNCLASSIFIED

        ion from European hospitals - creating "gaps" in the data base. It
    *learned later'that some European communication centers did not have
    PL.ftijS for the addresses on messages sent out. Those messages are
    unrecoverable from this location.


        I. MESSAGE PLADS FOR 14ARINE HOSPITAL LIAISON STAFFS - All         of
    cc, tunication were required by the Casualty Section in order to receive
    and distribute information on casualties. The least acceptable means
    of communication was the message. I believe its original intent was to
    supplement Naval hospital/ships messages with names vice numbers.
    Since this did not occur, our most rapid means of communication became
    the telefax, ELMS/LAN and telephones. When the hospital liaison teams
    began reporting four times daily (start of ground war), an op-immediate
    message sent to this Headquarters would average 13 hours in processing
    time before reaching this office. As a result, this means of
    communication was discarded.


        J. USN SHIPS COMFORT AND MERCY - Two Marine Liaison teams were
    assigned to the Naval Hospital Ships Comfort and Mercy in support of
    operation Desert Storm. Information received from personnel serving on
    the Hospital Ship Mercy shows that they were not used for the purpose
    intended - care of Marines, Sailors and reporting back to the Casualty
    office - because there were so few casualties processed on the ship and
    communications were not available to them. The hospital ship reported
    by message as required during Operation Desert Storm any casualties
    received: since the conflict didn't heat up to a mass casualty
        ario, the reports did not change (to numbers verse names), so
    *,rting by message by the Liaison team was not required. Personnel
    were then incorporated into shipboard life and duties. As reported by
    the SNCOIC assigned, all casualties, with some exceptions, were sent to
    thA USNS Comfort - where the same utilization of assigned Marine
    h(, ')ital liaison's was made. Since these two great.ships will be around
    for awhile, it is recommended that prior planning be initiated before
    the next conflict arises, for the use of Marine Hospital Liaisons and
    the their use ofcommunications while on board.

        K. ELMS/LAN/COMPUTERS. See Point Paper/letters, Appendix G.

        L. REPORTS/CHARTS. See sample in-country hospital report and
    others, Appendix H. Initially, the need by all concerned commands/
    units to possess a copy of the daily hospital report created a monster
    in distribution. Too many addressees coupled with other staff
    submitted administrative messages slowed down the communication centers
    response time and eventually terminated this means of distribution to
    all. Subsequently NAVGRAMS were distributed to sections within the
    HQ's and all in-country MSC'S. ELMS forwarded copies to HQMC and the I
    MEP forward. When the ground war commenced, messages were again sent
    along with the NAVORAM and ELMS - with a major reduction in PLAD
    distribution. The MSC's subordinate units were continuously plagued
    with non-receipt of status on their patients due to the MSC's not
    forwarding this information. This continued to be a problem through
        course of the operation.

        M. PRE-POSITIONING. There is a need, in any future conflict, to
    have established a Casualty Section at the inception of the operation,

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