Statement of Gunnery Sergeant
George J. Grass, USMC
December 10, 1996
Subcommittee on Human Resources
and Intergovernmental Relations,
House Committee on Governemnt
Reform and Oversight
I Gysgt George J. Grass do make the
following statement:
Upon my arrival in SouthWest Asia, I
was assigned as the NBC Fox Recon
Vehicle Commander (Serial#5604) for
1st Marine Division, Task Force Ripper.
CWO Cottrell was the NBC Officer for
Task Force Ripper. Due to the mission
and other circumstances, I was
attached to 3d Tank Battalion which
was the lead element of Ripper. The
NBC Officer at 3d Tank Battalion was
CWO Biedenbender.
My overall mission was to provide the
Task Force with a Recon and Survey
of the battlefield in case of any NBC
attack and report that information
through my chain of command which
began with CWO Biedenbender and
CWO Cottrell.
Aproximately [sic] 24--48 hours prior to
the breaching operations, all of the
Fox vehicles within 1st Marine Division
were sent to the Northern Division
Support Center for a final operations
and functions test. These tests
included checking and verifying the
Mobile Mass Spectometer for
accuracy. The civilian technicians from
General Dynamics performed these
checks and determined that all the Fox
vehicles assigned to 1st Marine
Division were fully functional and
accurate to include mine.
During operations at both minefield
breaches, I was tasked with checking
all eight (8) lanes for any possible
contamination that may have been
present. At the morning meeting at 3d
Tank Battalion's Command Operation
Center (COC) on 22 Feb 1991, the
intelligence frief was as follows "Recon
reports back that from grid coordinates
QS756771 to QS754773 there have
been observed to be numerous
Viscella 69 mines with a high
probability of chemicals." As my Fox
vehicle drove through each lane we
monitored for both liquid and vapor
contamination. The probe used to
"sniff" for any contamination detected
small traces of Nerve Agent [emphasis
in original] in the air. It is difficult to say
whether these traces were from vapor
or liquid contamination. The computer
system notified us that the amount of
chemical agent vapor in the air was not
significant enough to produce any
casualties. As a result, it was
impossible for the Mass Spectometer
to run a complete check on the agent
except by visualy observing the agent
and spectrum on the computer screen.
These minute reading [sic] continued
on the screen for the duration of each
lane surveyed. Once my Fox vehicle
departed the first minefield breach,
those Nerve Agent [emphasis in
original] readings went away. I do not
remember the type of Nerve agent we
detected. I told CWO Biedenbender
and CWO Cottrell face to face what
had been detected and the trace
amounts of the agent and they both
agreed that since we had no solid
proof there was othing we could do
about it. Several Marines worked to
complete the lanes while wearing only
MOPP level 2 and no gas mask while
we detected these readings. No further
chemical agents were detected as we
checked the lanes of the second
minefield breach.
After the Task Force had arrived and
taken Al-Jaber airfield, I was positioned
somewhere on the northern side of the
airfield with elements of 3d Tank
Battalion monitoring for any chemical
agent vapor contamination in the air.
The following day the smoke from the
burning oil fires rolled in and made
daylight hours look completely black.
The Mass Spectrometer was
programmed with a sample of the oil
fire vapors and it was labeled as
unknown #1. Whenever the thick
smoke was present, there was always
[emphasis in original] a slight reading
on the Mass Spectrometer screen.
These slight readings were the same
regardless of the concentration or
locatoin of the vehicle. Because these
readings became common place [sic]
whenever the thick smoke rolled in, it
was easily recognizable when
compared to an actual chemical agent
appearing on the monitor. As the Mass
Spectrometer was monitoring for
chemical agent vapor contamination
with the usual readings from the oil
fires, the alarm on the Mass
Spectrometer sounded alerting us of a
lethal vapor concentration of the
chemical agent S-Mustard [emphasis
in original]. The vapor concentration
was present in the air for several
minutes and allowed the Mass
Spectrometer to do a complete
analysis of the vapor present. A
complete chemical spectrum was run
and printed out for future evidence of
the chemical contamination. Upon
hearing the alarm and observing a
lethal vapor concentration of the
Blister agent S-Mustard [emphasis in
original] in the air, I alerted the entire
Task Force of our findings. After
receiving the proper authority, my Fox
vehicle conducted an area recon and
survey to determine the limits of
contamination. Whle performing the
survey, the readings went away and
the only readings appearing on the
monitor were the typical readings from
the oil fire vapors. The detection of the
positive readings were reported
through 3d Tank Battalions COC by
CWO Biedenbender and myself to the
1st Marine Division NBC Officer, CWO
Bauer. Division stated that our
readings were false and that the
readings were produced by burning oil
fire vapors. We explained to him that
we already knew what the oil fire
vapors looked like on the monitor and
the readings were clearly distinct with
the words S-Mustard [emphasis in
original] printed across the screen and
on the tape printed out as evidence of
the contamination the Marines were
exposed to. Division then stated that
the readings had to be false positive
readings from the fuel/exhaust systems
of the M60 tanks and Amtracs, etc.
that were around my Fox vehicle.
Again I explained to Division that the
Mass Spectrometeralready had a fuel
vapor sample programmed int the
system and comes up on the
monitoras its chemical name and the
words "Fat, oil, wax." Division still
insisted that we had false readings and
abruptly signed off the radio. CWO
Biedenbender instructed me to keep
the printed copy as proof of our
detection in case we needed it at a
later date.
After Task Force Ripper left Al-Jaber
airfield heading toward Kuwait City,
several chemcial attacks were reported
throughout the Task Force from
positive readings taken by personnel
using the Chemical Agent Monitor
(CAM). My Fox Vehicle was called to
survey every possible contaminated
area and verify/check for any vapor or
ground contamination present. All
surveys performed by my Fox vehicle
were negative when called to survey
possible chemical agent attacks
although the CAM had two-three bar
positive readings. Element
Commanders began to perform
selective unmasking procedures by
use of the M256A1 Chemcial agent
detection kit until my Fox vehicle
verified the absence of chemical
contamination in their area of
operation. Once my Fox vehicle
determined that there was no
contamination present, the Marines
removed their field protective mask.
The next time my Fox vehicle had
verifiable positive chemical agent
readings was from an Ammunition
Storage Area located just outside
Kuwait City.
On 28 Feb 1991, I was now part of
Task Force Ripper's main element and
controlled by CWO Cottrell. During the
intelligence briefing that morning, it
was stated by the S-2 that the Iraqi's
had established the 3d Armored Corps
Ammunition Supply Point (ASP) just
outside of Kuwait City and that sources
(Iraqi prisoners) have stated there
were chemical weapons stored
somewhere within the Ammo Storage
Area. I was informed that my task was
to do a complete survey of the entire
ASP and locate any chemical weapons
that may be stored there. CWO Cottrell
directed me to call back nonchalantely
as finding some "HONEY" instead of
alerting the entire Task Force of my
findings. My Fox vehicle began
conducting hte survey that afternoon.
While monitoring for chemical agent
vapors in an out of the way ammo
storage area next to 1st Bn 5th
Marines location, the alarm on the
Mass Spectrometer sounded with a full
and distinct spectrum across the
monitor and a lethal vapor
concentration of S-Mustard [emphasis
in original]. We drove the Fox vehicle
closer to the dug in ammo bunkers and
fully visible were the skull and cross
bones either on yello tape with red
letering or some boxes had red skull
and cross bones pained on the boxes,
and a small painted sign next to the
bunkers. On top of several of the
boxes of ammunition were 155mm
rounds with colored bands around
them. The labeling on the boxes was
from the United States. A full and
complete spectrum was taken adn
printed out as proof of the detection. I
notified CWO Cottrell of the "HONEY"
and he instructed me to return to
Ripper's main area but to be aware
that some VIP's and the media were
there. As we continued driving through
the same ammo storage area the
alarm sounded again. The chemical
agent HT-Mustard [emphasis in
original] in a lethal dose came across
the monitor. Again, the skull and cross
bones were present although the
boxes were closed with markings from
the United States and Holland. Again a
full spectrum on the Mass
Spectrometer was easily accomplished
and printed out as proof of the
detection. Before driving out of the
ammo storage area, the alarm
sounded once more showing a positive
reading of Benzene Bromide
[emphasis in original]. This reading
was taken next to a large metal
container with no distinct markings.
The vapor concentration was in the air
and a full spectrum was ran [sic] on the
Mass Spectrometer and printed out as
proof of the detection. All of the
positive chemical agent readings were
all within 100 yards of each other near
grid coordinate QT766395. Although I
did not have time to survey the entire
area, all of the ammunition that I
observed stored in the area was either
from Holland, Jordan and/or the United
States. No Marine unit had gone into
that storage area before we entered it.
Completing the Army Technical Escort
course seven months prior to
deployment to SWA, being a former
Ammunition Technician for 6 years and
working as the NCOIC of the Marine
Corps offensive chemical weapons
unit, I observed several signs of
possible chemical weapons storage.
There were fire extinguishers colored
in red, blue or green with each
grouped in a specific area according to
their color. Also this particular storage
areas was positioned far out of the way
from the rest of the 3rd Armored Corps
ASP. It was blocked off by a thick row
of trees making it difficult to see from
the main highway leading into Kuwait
City. Also this particular storage area
had several bung and open top 55
gallon drums that were painted all
blue,k red and blue, olive drab green,
and white and green. Each set of
drums were grouped together
according to its color and whether the
color of the drum was solid or striped.
No other area of the entire 3d Armored
Corps ASP that my Fox vehicle
checked was designed and set up like
that area. [emphasis in original]. Task
Force Ripper's intelligence section was
notified in great detail of this area.
Upon arrival at Ripper's COC, myself,
CWO Cottrell and other officers were
taken into a command post tent. I
explained to all of them about the
S-Mustard, HT-Mustard, and Benzene
Bromide [emphasis in original]
detected at the chemical weapons
storage area I had just left. I explained
the comparison between both
S-Mustard tickets and also pointed out
that each had an atomic mass/weight
over 300 which is comparable to a
chemical compound and they all
agreed that Division must be notified.
As I was standing there, one of the
officers contacted Division. When he
hung up the radio, it was determined
that I would meet and EOD team at
0700 at Division HQ located at the
Kuwait International Airport and escort
them to the ammo storage area the
next morning. I gave my superior
officers all of the printed out Mass
Spectrometer tickets taken from
Al-Jaber airfield and the 3rd Armored
Corps ASP. I never saw the tickets I
had given them again. The EOD team
had not come forward of Al-Jaber
airfield at this point in the war and was
concerned with the unexploded
munitions located there.
When the EOD team finally arrived by
helicopter, I escorted them to where
the chemical weapons were detected.
Upon arrival, the EOD team donned
full protective equipment and entered
the area. They worked in the area for
aproximately [sic] one hour. Upon
completion of their mission, they
deconned themselves and verbally
acknowledged the presence of
chemical weapons in the storage area
but stated that their main concern was
to catalogue lot numbers to see of
those lot numbers had come into the
country after sanctions were imposed
on Iraq. We escorted the EOD team
back to the International Airport and
never head from them again. Task
Force Ripper and my Fox vehicle
departed Kuwait aproximately [sic] two
days later.
Since returning fromthe Persian Gulf
War, I have spoken to almost every
Fox Vehicle commander from both 1st
and 2nd Marine Division and every
one of them has verbally
acknowledged the positive
identification of chemical agents in
their area of operation.
George J. Grass
Gysgt USMC