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File: 102496_aug96_decls9_0018.txt
Subject: OP DESERT SHIELD 483RD MED DET VS JB 6 AUG 90 16 JAN 91
Unit: ARCENT
Parent Organization: CENTCOM
Box ID: BX000481
Folder Title: COMMAND REPORTS 422SD MED DET VETERINARY SVCS COMMAND REPORT
Document Number: 17
Folder SEQ #: 17
Preventive medicine personnel were occupied full time in performing
responsibilities with waste, water and pest control and had little
time to perform desperately needed food service sanitation duties.
US f ood service personnel were responsible only f or the f ood
produced for US personnel and not that consumed by the EPW'S. This
shortfall in food service sanitation support for the EPW's was
filled by Veterinary personnel who provided guidance to the Camp MP
personnel, Camp Surgeon and actual EPW cooks.
Problems Veterinary personnel noted and corrected are:
1. Lack of adequate dry and refrigerated food storage facilities.
Semiperishable rations were stacked directly on the ground and in
direct sunlight. Perishable products were stacked haphazardly in
reefers with commingling of different meats and FF&V.
Tents were set up for the storage of somiperishable
subsistence and all rations were put on pallets. Additional
reefers were obtained and all items to include meats and FF&V were
segregated and stored off the floor. Reefers were cleaned and
sanitized on a regular basis or as needed.
2. Inadequate food preparation equipment and utensils. EPW cooks
used entrenching tools to cut meat on cardboard placed on the
ground. Hails and knives were used to open cans.
Tables, knives, and can openers were procured.
3. Inadequate potable water supply. The camp initially tried to
install a central piped water supply which never functioned
properly. The camps brought in 250 gallon onion skin bladders with
potable water but did not have the hoses with which to dispense the
water properly. EPW's had to dip 5 gal cans and buckets into the
water bladder to get water. Water was hyperchlorinated to loppm to
try and prevent disease from contaminated water.
4. Lack of proper waste collection facilities to include
du-mpsters and grease pits.
5. No sanitizing compounds and cleaning supplies. There were no
cleaning supplies and sanitizing compounds with which the EPW's
could clean and sanitize their utensils.
Procured cleaning supplies and sanitizing solutions locally
and provided instruction in the proper cleaning and sanitizing of
food service equipment and utensils to the EPW'S.
6. No clean sanitary clothing for EPW cooks. Cooks wore only the
same standard jump suits issued to each EPW.
7. Hot water was not readily available for EPW'S to use to heat
their operational rations at the 401st EPW camp. Through input
from the veterinary inspector on site, a central hot water system
was installed at the camp for the EPW's to heat their rations.
The EPW's themselves prepared the food and lacked proper
training and understanding of foodservice sanitation (ie. mixing
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Document 20 f:/Week-32/BX000481/COMMAND REPORTS 422SD MED DET VETERINARY SVCS COMMAND REPORT/op desert shield 483rd med det vs jb 6 aug 9:10119615402310
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-32
Box ID = BX000481
Unit = ARCENT
Parent Organization = CENTCOM
Folder Title = COMMAND REPORTS 422SD MED DET VETERINARY SVCS COMMAND REPORT
Folder Seq # = 17
Subject = OP DESERT SHIELD 483RD MED DET VS JB 6 AUG 9
Document Seq # = 17
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 = 11-OCT-1996