Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

a rehearsal for leaders, using a very detailed scale model of
Tuzla Airbase. After this rehearsal, I was confident that the
Blue Falcons were loaded, trained, and ready to deploy for
JOINT ENDEAVOR.
DEPLOYMENT AND INITIAL OPERATIONS
Our Aerial Port of Embarkation (APOE) was Aviano
Airbase, approximately 2 1/2 hours north of Vicenza. At
0630, December 13, the first vehicle convoy departed
Vicenza en route to Aviano Airbase. We dispatched vehicles
and ISU-90 containers in deployment order to Aviano
throughout the next several days. The Vicenza garrison
command and the LION Brigade established the Departure
Airfield Control Group, executed the staging and inspection
of vehicles, and assisted our S-4 at the ammo issue point at
Aviano.
A heavy snow began to fall at approximately 1400, and
we decided to stop the flow of vehicles to Aviano after the
first day’s chalks had departed. Additionally, we delayed
the departure of troop buses until the afternoon of
December 14. Such a snowfall was rare in the Vicenza area;
this was the first snow of any significance in the Vicenza
region for the past 5 years.
I received a call from Major General Nash at my quarters
that evening. He stated that he was sending Mr. Kirk
Spitzer, a print journalist, to travel with me into Bosnia. We
discussed my comments to the media who would surely be
awaiting our arrival at Tuzla Airbase, as well as a few
tactical matters. I appreciated this guidance and the fact
that he took the time to personally call me prior to our
departure.
The execute order, citing G-Day as December 15, was
received on December 14, and TF 3-325 began movement of
the troops to Aviano Airbase that afternoon. Most of the
family members were there to see us depart. Also, many of
the major news services were present to film the departure.
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