The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 ...

Deployment 31
The squadron leaders’ wives began a family support group
within the framework of the formal chain of command to handle
many of the problems that arose since “Dad can’t come
home.” For example, the Headquarters Troop’s maintenance
platoon had a chain of concern headed by SSG William Ball’s
wife Crystal. Bridget Burdan did the same for the S3 Section’s
families. The troop commanders’ and first sergeants’ wives
headed each unit’s chain and coordinated with Wilson’s wife
Lynn. On a larger scale, this group worked with the division’s
support group headed by Mrs. Lin Rhame, the commanding
general’s wife, and handled more and more of the personal aspects
of the deployment. 9
Each soldier passed through a series of stations called
“preparation for overseas movement” or POM. At one station,
sergeants checked and rechecked uniforms and individual field
equipment, called TA-50 in army jargon. The list of required
items seemed endless; each soldier had four uniforms with all
patches and name tags sewn on, two pairs of boots, eight pairs
of socks, six pairs of under shorts, two field jackets, his web
gear to carry his pack, two canteens, a sleeping bag, shelter half,
chemical protective over-garments, protective mask, helmet,
and so on and so forth. All of this personal equipment was supposed
to fit into two duffel bags and a rucksack. This list did not
include the other items wanted or needed by the trooper including
extra socks, wool caps, extra gloves, batteries for tape
players, radios, and cassette players, and books. These items
were either stashed away in the shipping vans and vehicles that
were heading for the port, or were mailed by the soldier to his
unit address in Saudi Arabia. 10
Continuing their POM, troopers went to numerous additional
stations, manned by staff specialists, and designed to
protect the individual’s health and welfare. Military lawyers
ensured that wills and insurance were up to date and prepared
powers of attorney to take care of any legal problems that might
arise while they were gone. Finance clerks checked troopers’
records and verified that their paychecks were deposited directly
into bank accounts that their wives would have access to.
Each trooper made arrangements to take care of his automobile
and, if needed, store it in a guarded lot on post. Those who were