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File: 102896_jun96_decls6_0042.txt
Subject: DESERT SHIELD-STORM INTERVIEW
Box ID: BX001608
Unit: 101ST ID
Parent Organization: XVIII CORPS
Folder Title: DSS 101ST ABN DIV INTERVIEW CDR 101ST SG - C
Folder SEQ #: 83
Document Number: 2
DSIT-AE-103: COL Roy E. Beauchamp
able to use that all the way until we deployed to Rafha.
There was no commercial telephone node in Rafha so our
commercial telephone was not useful to us up there. Which
ironically is probably the only city in Saudi Arabia that is
not accessible by cellular telephone. But at Hafar al Batin
and KKMC there were commercial--there was a node which you
could access. But cellular telephones on our vehicles were
absolutely critical.
I'll tell you another ... we were talking about
communications earlier. That's always, always a key
component of what we do for command and control. The
logistics units traditionally do not have enough
communications capability, and that's a problem the Army has
to come to grips with
I
MAJ HONEC: Yes. [LAUGHTER]
COL BEAUCHAMP: We have to have a dedicated, in my view, a
dedicated battalion supporting the COSCOM, providing not
only communications but also the ability to move large
volumes of logistics information quickly through the system.
I had working with me probably four or five different signal
elements. I got a signal cell with me when we deployed,
during the course of this deployment. Each time we had to
get reacquainted with the people and they had to get
reacquainted with us. They all did a great job. I'm
certainly not being critical of that. But it would
certainly be comforting and helpful to know who's going to
be supporting me so we can establish those long-term
relationships. They get to know our organization, what we
need, and that sort of thing. We received after-we got @lo
Saudi Arabia from here, as a matter of fact--they were
ere--MSRTs, what was described earlier,
telephones, which were absolutely, absolutely indispensable.
Of course you had to be affiliated with a node much like the
civilian cellular telephones, but a tremendous, tremendous
capability. I think I received seven of those.
MAJ HONEC: Okay, I was going to ask you ...
COL BEAUCHAMP: With the group and with the battalions.
MAJ HONEC: But you need much more of those?
COL BEAUCHAMP: Absolutely.
MAJ HONEC: They are not that expensive.
COL BEAUCHAMP: Not comparatively, no. I don't think so.
39
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Document 64 f:/Week-22/BX001608/DSS 101ST ABN DIV INTERVIEW CDR 101ST SG - C/desert shield-storm interview:10019616504029
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-22
Box ID = BX001608
Unit = 101ST ID
Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS
Folder Title = DSS 101ST ABN DIV INTERVIEW CDR 101ST SG - C
Folder Seq # = 83
Subject = DESERT SHIELD-STORM INTERVIEW
Document Seq # = 2
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 = 01-OCT-1996