DESERT SHIELD-STORM INTERVIEW

File: 102896_jun96_decls6_0060.txt
Page: 0060
Total Pages: 64

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


           if ypu have a soldier who is not sure he can get repair
           parts when his vehicle brakes, he's going to resort to other
           means to get the repair parts. He'll steal.

           MAJ HONEC: Good point.

           COL BEAUCHAMP: I think those were really unfortunate
           spinoffs of this sub-optimized effectiveness of our
           distribution system in the early stages of this conflict.
           Again, I know we did all this very quickly. We introduced a
           lot of forces into the theater. We should not rationalize
           away the problems we had in that aspect.
                I think one of the things we've got to do as an
           institution, as an Army, is look objectively at this whole
           operation. The American soldier performed just
           magnificently in this whole operation. I have nothing but
           the highest of accolades for all the soldiers. Not just the
           logistic soldiers. The combat soldiers were under great
           deprivations in this conflict. It was not easy at all. It
           was not an easy matter to deploy and live in the desert for
           three or four months and do the things that all the soldiers
           had to do. We had great support from the American people
           and we achieved of course a great victory in this case. And
           for that, we are all grateful. With very, very small
           casualties.
                However, having said that, we've got now to look
           objectively at the things that didn't work so well for us.
           We've got to look objectively at.what we need to do better.
           We've got to look at all our systems. We've got to look at
           the structure of the Army. We've got to look at the size of
           the Army and where we want to go and what we want to do.
           We've got to look at technology, and technology served us
ink
           extrapolate beyond 100 hours and say, what if it had been
           100 days. or God forbid, suppose it had been 100 months?
           Would the systems have worked as well? Could we have
           sustained ourselves over this period of time? We've got to
           look at our Reserve Component units. And we've got to make
           sure that those units that are going to be called up to
           support contingencies are trained to very high standards.
           I'm not talking about perfection. We have to do the same
           thing with active Army. We have to have high standards.
           We've got to get the most bang for our buck and the money we
           are spending for--for our defense establishment. If we
           can't do that, then we don't have a legitimate claim for
           more money to pay our soldiers and to buy the things we need
           and to buy the technology.
                A lot has been said about technology, and I'm a great
           believer in technology, what it will do for you on the
           modern battlefield. But technology doesn't win wars.
           Soldiers win wars. Because technology that doesn't work is

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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