European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 12, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Members of South Carolina nations guards 265th quartermaster det pose to a portrait after arriving in saudi Arabia diary South Carolina guards 265th quartermaster det reporter Fred Bayles spent nearly three weeks with the 14 men of the National guard s 265th quartermaster det As they mobilized trained and deployed to saudi Arabia. In a diary of those Days Bayles traces the men $ activities from a rousing sendoff from their Small Hometown in South Carolina to their arrival in the Middle East. By Fred Bayles associated press the 14 members of the 265th quartermaster det Arentt professional soldiers. Henry Harris a retired schoolteacher is the oldest at 51 Mark Rooker a College Sophomore is 20. The rest work in construction or at the local correctional facility or drive trucks. Eight Are married and nearly All have children. But the 265th is a second family. A majority have been in the unit 16 years or More. Like any family there Are rivalries and grudges and arguments. There also is camaraderie. Sgt. Earnest Deloach an 18-year Veteran had his gripes about being mobilized. His income plunged he missed his songs 16th birthday he limped along through training on a pulled hamstring. So it was a Surprise to hear him say he did no to have to go. I could have gotten out of it Quot he says covered with sweat on a Beach by the persian Gulf Quot but my Guys were  a thursday aug. 30 the 265th arrives for training at fort Stewart ga., with Little fanfare. The night before a huge crowd showed up in the heat of Allendale s.c., to Send them off. The turnout beat attendance at the last county fair. Fort Stewart is empty. Much of the 24th infantry already is gone. Ail that a left Are yellow ribbons and signs along the Road bestowing gods blessings on the departed soldiers. The 265th, a water purification unit spent the past week packing pickup trucks and completing inventories and assorted paperwork including wills. Quarters Are in the Post s National guard Section old cinder Rock Barracks with wooden roofs and not much else. Bare bulb lighting no plumbing no fans to stir the heavy Damp air. Quot these accommodations will seem luxurious once you get to saudi Arabia Quot says a lieutenant colonel As a Way of Welcome. A Friday aug. 31 paperwork Day. The men get new do tags and identification cards As temporary members of the regular . Pay vouchers have to be filed medical records checked. The men Are inoculated for meningitis and typhoid. Each step is Long and Boring. Sitting waiting in the rows of folding chairs at the processing Center sgt. Herman Roberts complains of stomach pains. Sgt. Ronnie Jackson commander of the 265th, starts to Hector him like one half of an old married couple. A How come every time we go on a trip you get  Quot he asks loudly. A saturday sept. 1 Abc nuclear biological chemical training. Films of bunnies goats and pigeons thrashing around and dying from nerve agents. Deloach shakes his head As each victim succumbs. After awhile the films become predictable and the men begin to nod off in the darkened room As animals die on screen. Excerpts of class notes Quot done to Lay Down if exposed to choking agents your lungs will fill with fluid. Nerve agent warning signs Runny nose headache drooling  someone asks if there a going to be a test on the information. Quot the test is going to be when you hit land Over there Quot says the sergeant instructor. A tuesday sept. 4 it physical training every morning now at 6 a.m., led by capt. Robert Appiah. Quot Side straddle hop Quot he says and the men answer in a shout Quot Side straddle hop Quot most keep up with the requisite amount of cheating on pushups and setups. Running is the killer. The group does three Miles then groans As Appiah turns them around to pick up stragglers. Quot make them run a they shout. Ulysses Calhoun is Gung to for the first two Miles taunting the others. After that he is gasping with the rest. Quot my overdrive kicked in and then it kicked out again Quot he explains. One running cadence Quot they say in the  the women Are mighty Fine i went out with one late last night she looked like Frankenstein of lord i want to go of How i want to go of lord i want to go four beat pause Home Quot a wednesday sept. 5 lectures from a chaplain on islam and Arab culture. Chaplain pronounces it Aye Rab. What not to do Don t Point or make the a Okay sign it s considered giving somebody the evil Eye. Don t show the Bottom of your continued on Page ii Page 16 the stars and stripes Friday october 12,1990