Special Troops Battalion
Seventh Corps' Special Troops Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia beginning in November, sending a team to set up an advance party to receive the corps.
Augmented by members of the VII Corps military academy staff from Augsburg and a number of individual replacements from around the world, the battalion grew to nearly double its former size.
The battalion included the 84th Army Band and military police, intelligence and chemical defense attachments during the deployment.
Raising spirits
The band arrived in Dammam in midDecember, teaming with divisional bands to help marshal spirits in the port, where soldiers waited to meet their equipment.
STB soldiers moved to the field to support three VII Corps headquarters areas at the main, rear and tactical command posts. They provided maintenance support, food and fuel to the headquarters staff. The Corps TAC party set out first in mid-December, followed shortly after by the main and rear.
Shortly before the ground war, all three headquarters elements shifted to forward positions. The TAC set up just south of the Saudi Arabia-Iraq border and the main moved to the desert near Log Base Echo. The rear took up position at a Saudi airfield near Hafar Al Batin.
During the 100-hour offensive, the TAC followed the attacking divisions into Iraq and Kuwait. Using two separate elements, the TAC maneuvered along with the divisions, directing their movements.
After the cease fire, the TAC remained in Iraq, keeping track of developments north of the corps area and directing units deeply involved in humanitarian aid efforts.
The battalion reunited in mid-April at King Khalid Military City, shortly before redeployment to Germany.