Intratheater Ground Transportation Operations During Desert Shield and Desert Storm: A Personal Experience Monograph

Abstract

Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm presented a tremendous challenge to ground transportation capabilities. Millions of gallons of fuel, hundreds of thousands of troops, thousands of tons of ammunition and other supplies, thousands of tanks, combat vehicles, and artillery pieces had to be moved hundreds of miles from the Seaports of Debarkation (SPOD) to Forward Logistics Bases within the theater of operation to support execution of the war. Without question, U.S. and Coalition forces achieved an overwhelming victory during Operation Desert Storm and ground transportation played a vital role throughout the operation. In the pages that follow, Lieutenant Colonel Paul L. Willis recounts his experience planning and coordinating ground transportation operations during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. At the time of these operations, LTC Willis was the Transportation Plans Officer for the 22nd Support Command and was heavily involved in all aspects of planning and coordinating theater ground transportation operations. This personal experience monograph is intended to provide the reader, specifically those who might be involved in planning or executing future ground transportation operations a first hand account of what was done during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. This monograph will cover problems encountered, how they were resolved, and what lessons for future operations warrant further study. The author has drawn upon his personal recollection, compiled records of events, After Action Reports, plans he assisted in developing and briefings given by him in the writing of this monograph. Therefore, only a limited bibliography and endnotes are used.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA397247

Entities

People

  • Paul L. Willis

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Ammunition
  • Combat Forces
  • Combat Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Contracts
  • Deployment
  • Land Transportation
  • Logistics
  • Logistics Planning
  • Maintenance
  • Personnel Management
  • Rail Transportation
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies