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File: 970107_aug96_decls2_0023.txt
Subject: 8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91 12 APR 91
Unit: 8TH TANK BN
Parent Organization: 2 MARDIV
Box ID: BX600007
Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991
Document Number: 1
Folder Seq #: 5
UNCLASSIFIED
Identification of various possible action scenarios for the battaiion's
role in combat made it necessary to prepare various options for medical
coverage, medevac, and casualty handling in 'combat. Attached to 6th
Marine Regiment and anticipating a major role in the initial ground attack
by U.S. forces, it became apparent that the reserve T/O for the battalion
was insufficient. All other similar units included two (vice a single)
medical officer and twice the number of corpsmen in our battalion.
Upon request, a team of 13 augmenteas were received by the battalion on
25 Jan 1991 from Camp Pendleton. Though the majority of them were -
non-rated and all had come from hospitals rather than FMF Commands, their
arrival provided the depth of HM support required to provide optimal field
medical care to the Sth Tank Battalion Marines. These additional corpsmen
were : - 5 U.S.C. 552 (b)js6@
1. Butler, Korman K. HM2 8464
2. Yokois, Douglas D. HM2 8404 USN
3. Avery, Louis K. HM3 8404 USN
4. Grant, Lester G. HM3 8404 USN
5. Leone, Frank S. HN 8404 USN
6. Mack, Walter A. HN 8404 USN
7. Martin, Eric D. HN 8404 USN
8. Armonio, Francis V. HA 8404 USN
9. Barnes, Jerry R. HA 8404 USN
Huseby, Troy HA 8404 USN
11. Hoelzel, William R. HR 8404 USN
12. Chapman, Jason M. HA 8404 USN
13. Padua, Arnell V. HR 8404 USN
During the month, frequent changes in location was accompanied by
vastly improved tactical proficiency of the department such that by the
end of January, the BAS was able to easily break down the complete
operation set-up, and load in a tactically appropriate manner in less than
2 hours, including such a move in the black of night. Likewise, the
corpsmen of the BPS became able to set up and function from a tactically
sound BAS in less than 30 minutes from arrival at a new position while
setting up the complete operation, which could then be completed in
generally less than an additional hour, ensuring availability of medical
care at all times, under all conditions.
A team of corpsmen was assigned to each line company, in the combat or
field train BAS and was each assigned individual responsibilities within
that area. Continued training and drills throughout the month were held
in order to constantly search for weaknesses in either operative planning,
personnel, or equipment. The major difficulty remained obtaining needed
supplies, even those identified as combat essential, despite official
messenger, rapid requests, priarity-2 orders, etc.
F6 I Feb - 28 Feb 1991
Ongoing training in both medical and tactical subjects continued to
improve on the operating efficiency of the department. Additionally, as
B-Day neared, it became apparent that the medical SOP of the battalion
would not work in the current operations and a new medical evacuation plan
and operational structure was to be developed and exercised.
The BAS developed, based on the tactical situation, a method to support
the companies in a highly fluid environment. Three HMs were deployed with
each gun company, one in the company tank retriever, a second in an
armored TOW vehicle (demilitarized) and the third kept at the BAS. When a
casualty occurred, a corpsman in either the retriever or the armored
HUMMWV would go to the area and provide first aid. Then the victim would
22
UNCLASSIFIED
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Document 60 f:/Week-34/BX600007/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991/8th tank bn command chronology nov 90 to mar 91:01029709504317
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-34
Box ID = BX600007
Unit = 8TH TANK BN
Parent Organization = 2 MARDIV
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991
Folder Seq # = 5
Subject = 8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91
Document Seq # = 1
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 = 02-JAN-1997