Battleship Marine-A Combat History of the USS Wisconsin in Desert Storm

By Kent S Ralston

Battleship Marine recounts the decisive role the USS Wisconsin, a World War Two era battleship, played during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. There is very little historical information available on the Naval actions in the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. This first hand account by the Executive Officer of the Marine Detachment on the Wisconsin helps to fill a part of the historical record. It provides an eye witness account of the ships deployment from Norfolk, Virginia. Her entrance into the Persian Gulf as the first Navy capital ship on station to defend against a possible Iraqi advance into Saudi Arabia. The long arduous days training and preparing for war and finally the coalition assault on the Iraqi forces. The Wisconsin played a pivotal naval role by directing Tomahawk strikes against key targets and later by conducting shore bombardment with her 16 inch guns against Iraqi targets in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The presence of the Wisconsin along with Marine Expeditionary Brigades in the Gulf lead Hussein to heavily fortify the Kuwaiti Coast and orient many of his forces toward the Gulf. This diversion allowed the Coalition Forces on land to conduct a deep flanking movement against the Iraqi right flank that forced the Iraqis into a panicked retreat which led to a decisive victory of the US and her allies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kent S Ralston
• Release date: Dec 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310574733

Kent S Ralston

Kent S. RalstonLtCol USMC (Ret)Kent Ralston was born on July 4, 1962 in Clearwater, Florida. He joined the Marine Corps in April 1981. After graduating from Boot Camp at Parris Island, South Carolina he was assigned to the LVT Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division in Tampa, Florida. He was accepted into the Platoon Leaders Class in March 1986 after attaining the rank of Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserve.He attended the University of South Florida, from which he received a Bachelors Degree in History in 1987. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in July 1987. Upon completion of The Basic School he attended the Amphibian Officer Course and was subsequently assigned as a platoon commander with the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2d Marine Division.From December 1988 to December 1989 he was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit as the AAV Platoon Commander.During July 1990 he reported to the Marine Detachment USS Wisconsin (BB-64) as the Executive Officer. In August 1990 the Wisconsin deployed to the Persian Gulf and took part in combat actions against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. In July 1991, after the decommissioning of the Marine Detachment, he was reassigned to the Marine Corps Security Force Training Company, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion (LANT) as the OIC for the Physical Security /Tactics Section.He was promoted to Captain in November 1991. From June 1993 to December 1993 he attended the Armor Officer Advance Course, Fort Knox, Kentucky.In December 1993, he received orders to report to the 1st Marine Division where he served as the Company Commander of Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division. During May 1995 Company A deployed to Okinawa as part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) and was assigned to Combat Assault Battalion (CAB), 3rd Marine Division.Upon the Company’s return to the United States, in November 1995, he was reassigned to the Assault Amphibian School Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California as the Battalion Executive Officer. In July 1997 he was promoted to the rank of Major.From July 1998 to July 2002 he was assigned as the Inspector-Instructor, Company B (-), 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Jacksonville, Florida. From July 2002-July 2004 he was assigned as the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Operational (EFV) Test Director, Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity (MCOTEA). He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on January 1, 2003. During July of 2004 he was transferred to Marine Corps Logistics Command as the Current Operations Officer.His last Marine Corps assignment was as the Inspector-Instructor, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, and began in Jul 2005. During this time he was also Commander Task Force AAVs, MARFOR Gulf Coast, JTF KATRINA during rescue and recovery operations in the wake of Hurricane KATRINA.He retired in 2009. He has been married to his wife Nancy for over 30 years and has three children- Jennifer, Ashley and Jeb. He resides in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida.

Book preview

Battleship Marine

A Combat History of the USS Wisconsin in Desert Storm

Kent S Ralston

Published by Kent S Ralston at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Kent S Ralston

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.

All Rights Reserved, World Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the copyright owner, except brief quotations for the purpose of reviews.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1 Reporting For Duty

Chapter 2 The History of the USS Wisconsin (BB64)

Chapter 3 The USS Wisconsin in Desert Shield

Chapter 4 The USS Wisconsin in Desert Storm

Chapter 5 Postmortem

Members of the Marine Detachment during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm

Pictures

Bibliography

About the Author

Acknowledgments

I was inspired to write this book for two reasons. The first motivation was so that my children and their descendants may gain some perspective on how an ancestor participated in a historical event. My wife’s grandfather kept a diary of his days in World War I, from the time he mustered in the Army, thru combat in Europe, and up to his transit home. (There are also some nuggets about life in the early 20th century army that are very interesting.) Most importantly, his descendants can recognize and enjoy a direct link to one of the most cataclysmic events in the history of the world.

The second factor that propelled me into this project was my background as an amateur historian. I received my degree from college in history. History and its causes and effects have always interested me since I was a very small boy. Specifically, I have always found the letters of war veterans of extreme interest. To get the perspective of a historical event from an eyewitness participant is very important to me. Most historians seek to find eyewitness accounts to historical events as they research whatever project they may be working on. Those original sources are critical to having a well-rounded and accurate understanding of the events. Additionally, they give the historian insight into what was occurring from a foxhole-eye view. For instance, it’s important to understand the perspective of a young Marine--what makes an American youth willing to attack directly into the teeth of murderous machine-gun fire, or withstand hours of shelling, artillery, naval gunfire or air attack? The only way future historians will understand late 20th-century combat is if those individuals involved document truthfully what occurred, what they saw, and what they felt.

Some future historian that is researching Sailors and Marines in combat may find this minor work helpful and possibly insightful. They won’t find decisions on grand strategy or finer points on the operational level of war and the critical decisions made by Central Command (CENTCOM). What they will find is the simple viewpoint of a Marine 1stLt. who served on a World War II battleship in the last decade of the 20th century.

I am deeply indebted to Navy Lt. Rodney La Pearl, who was the USS Wisconsin ship's historian. Before he departed the ship after Desert Storm, he handed me a copy of his ship's daily history. This was very helpful to me, especially in remembering certain events and pinpointing accurate dates and times.

I always enjoyed my discussions with Rodney, who also had a keen interest in history. I know Rodney made many more copious notes and I hope that one day he will produce a definitive history of the USS Wisconsin in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Another book used as a reference was the official Naval History of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. It assisted in providing me with historical reference points that helped to clarify or solidify certain events in my memory.

Another must-read resource for anyone interested in similar history is the Official Naval History of Fast Battleships. It covers the history of battleships from World War II through Vietnam. I hope that someday the Navy will commission an update to include battleships in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

I owe a tremendous debt to my beautiful wife, Nancy, who has always been my rock. She held down all the household duties and did a superb job in raising three wonderful children. I am also proud of all that my kids have accomplished--Jenny, Ashley, and Jeb, and thankful for all of their sacrifice over the years. They had to move numerous times, and were uprooted constantly from friends and locations that they had grown to love. But they all overcame and adapted to whatever was thrown their way.

My Mom and Dad have always inspired me, and they built the Biblical and Christian foundation that gave me the grace to get through whatever dangerous situation I found myself in. My brother and sisters and their spouses have also been there to support me and my family. Thank you.

I am also indebted to the superb leadership that I encountered on the USS Wisconsin. My immediate supervisor, Marine Capt. Gregg Habel, was the epitome of what a Marine officer should be--squared away and tough, but always fair. Captain Jerry Blesch and Captain Dave Bill, the ship's Commanding Officers, were superb examples of Naval officers. After 27 years in the Marine Corps, you come to realize that you don’t get ahead without having top-notch enlisted Marines serving under you, and I was fortunate to have some of the finest Marines that I’ve ever met serving under me.

Introduction

This is the story not of a single Marine but of an entire crew of Sailors and Marines that simply did their duty. I had the privilege of serving with the Sailors and Marines of the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) for one year (July 1990-July 1991.) We served during some very trying times. Our country had not embarked upon a major war in over 20 years. The last major war that our country had engaged in was Vietnam. The ghosts of Vietnam would hang over us as we carried out our duties. Many politicians during that time even presumed that Desert Storm would become a quagmire and another Vietnam.

We were fortunate to be part of the generation that buried the ghosts of Vietnam. We were also fortunate to have had the backing of Vietnam veterans that supported us, cheered us, and even led us into combat. They helped to ensure that there would be no more Vietnams. This leadership minimized our casualties. Those of us that are Desert Storm veterans owe them a great debt of gratitude. Those Vietnam veterans established a great legacy that we knew we had to live up to.

Almost 300 Americans lost their lives in Desert Storm. And all those who served will carry those memories with them for the rest of their lives. Not a