ANTHOLOGY AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY                                      31


for midair collisions, but that's not a problem. The RPVs have to be out in
front of a tactical commander, although you could use it for rear area security.

Proceedings: Did you have any communications problems?

Hopkins: We used multi-channel and TacSat, but don't forget, we weren't that
far out.  The regiment was outside of Jubayl and we could still communicate
with the LAVs that were forward, so the distances were okay.

Proceedings: Did you use an LAV for a command post?

Hopkins: No. My command post was not that far from the units. The command
and control could still go from Jubayl.

Proceedings: Did you use commercial telephones much?

Hopkins: Absolutely.    The reason for that is that whether people realize it or
not, Saudi Arabia has the best telecommunications system in the whole world.
Remember, the Iraqis weren't trying to take all that stuff out, so we used any
means available while we established redundancy in our communication.   Then
as the units kept on flowing in, we got more communications gear, and it
worked out.

Proceedings: Did the troops initially stay in the lines for a long time before
anybody got to stand down?

Hopkins: Yes, they did, but their adrenalin was pumping-4ater on it was
motivation that kept them going. We moved right to the field. General Boomer
made a conscious decision that we would not have any built-up areas like those
we had in Vietnam.     We were going bare-boned.    You put a camouflage net
over somebody and it drops the temperature about ten degrees.   We bad to get
them acclimatized as soon as we could, and the only way to do that was to put
them in the field.   Three or four weeks after we got there, they'd be down to
their tee-shirts.  These Marines really looked good.    Then we just started
training, training, and more training.  Eventually we set up a rotation system
from the field to Jubayl for some rest and relaxation.

Proceedings: Did individual weapons hold up in the sand?

Hopkins: Absolutely.    We were cleaning the weapons twice, three times a day.
Sand storms would come up and the Marines would be doubly careful.    But we
didn't have any problems like the ones we had in Vietnam, many of which were
caused by improper care.