HISTORY SLIDES FOR 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION

File: 970313_sep96_decls37_0058.txt
Page: 0058
Total Pages: 96

Subject = HISTORY SLIDES FOR 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION                      

Folder Title = DRAFT COPY OF 101ST ABN DIV AALT OPERATIONS DS-S                                                

Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS 

Unit  = 101ST ID    

Box ID = BX001611

File Cabinet = Week-48 

File Room = sep96_classified    








             Team Jerry, the scout platoon for 3-187th Infantry,%air

       assaulted into Landing Zone (LZ) Sand in order to verify the

       landing zone for Task Force Rakassan's use. LZ Sand, located 40

       miles South of AO Eagle, was chosen as the landing site for the

       task forces' Chinooks, which lacked the range to make a full

       round trip to AO Eagle. Noting the extensive mud in the proposed

       landing site, First Lieutenant Biller, the scout platoon leader,
       chose to move the landing site ten kilometers west. 179

             The LRSD teams reported that the landing zone was

       characterized by rolling hills intermixed with shallow wadis a-nd

       standing water. Again, the most notable characteristic was the

       mud. Helicopters sank a full foot when they attempted to
            180
       land.

             A major sandstorm coupled with rain and mud to hamper

       mobility on the 25th. Driving winds prompted several delays in

       Third Brigade's air assault. A short break in the weather

       finally appeared, and the Rakassans dashed for the Euphrates.

             Chinooks carrying Task Force Rakassan landed in LZ Sand

       (NV400080) at 1216. Task Force Rakassan had the wheeled vehicles

       of the brigade task force. It included three anti-armor

       companies, two mounted infantry companies, the 3-320th Field
       Artillery, and the rest of the mounted teams of the brigade. 182

             Shortly after landing, Task Force Rakassan captured twenty

       EPWS. With the prisoners in tow, the vehicles moved north along

       Route 41A toward their linkup point with the dismounted forces of

       the rest of the brigade. The going was very slow due to heavy



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Document 96 f:/Week-48/BX001611/DRAFT COPY OF 101ST ABN DIV AALT OPERATIONS DS-S/history slides for 101st airborne division:03069709501938
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-48
Box ID = BX001611
Unit = 101ST ID
Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS
Folder Title = DRAFT COPY OF 101ST ABN DIV AALT OPERATIONS DS-S
Folder Seq # = 127
Subject = HISTORY SLIDES FOR 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION
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 = 06-MAR-1997