The Decon I Story
Camps Gibraltar and Viking

by Musn Mark Upton and BdCpl John Morrish

After a seven hour flight we finally arrived in Kuwait, only to be greeted with more forms to fill in. Finally, after being booked into theatre we were taken to our new home in Northern Kuwait. Camp Gibraltar was literally a few tents set up in the desert and it was here that we continued our preparations. It didn't take long to get into the swing of things although we did have to beg, borrow or steal the equipment we needed. After six long weeks of decontamination, medical and physical training we had become a competent team, and it was now time to move closer to the Iraqi border.
We were now within 12km of the Iraqi border, living in holes in the ground on rationed food and water, waiting for the war to begin. Over the next couple of weeks we endured the blistering heat and the worst sandstorm in Kuwaiti living memory, with several people having to be dug out when the storm subsided, but none of this dented our morale.
Then the reality of war kicked in as casualties began to come to our location. During this time we were required to carry the casualties from the helicopters to the surgical unit and provide security inside the operating theatre, with some of us going into the Iraqi port of Um Qassar to pick up casualties from the point of wounding. After 3 days our group prepared to move into the Iraqi Naval base.

Decon 2 arrive at Kuwait Airport	Camp Gibraltar
Decon 1 & 2 reunited for the move on to Camp Viking
Home sweet home! Camp Viking	Sgt 'Goose' Dodman and CSgt 'Taff' Davies in their shell scrape

Band Colour Sergeant Paul Bateman
in the "Reading room" at Camp Viking