Measurements from the energetic particles and ion composition instrument on Geotail are used to investigate at high time resolution the ion composition and charge state of solar wind plasma (sampled in the magnetosheath) impacting the Earth during the geomagnetic storm which commenced on November 3, 1993. This storm is one in a series of recurrent storms associated with a high-speed stream from a large coronal hole. Significant changes in the ion composition were found to start at ~0300 UT on November 4, 1993, near the leading edge of the high-speed stream, becoming very conspicuous near ~0500 UT when the solar wind speed reached ~700 km/s. Changes noted include a large transient enhancement of He++ relative to H+, a transient decrease in the temperatures of both H+ and He++ populations, an apparent enhancement of magnesium-silicon ions relative to iron ions, and a possible shift of iron ions to higher charge states. These changes may be associated with a coronal mass ejection embedded within the arrival of a new interplanetary sector. The time of these changes coincides well with the start of the second plunge in the Dst index which ultimately leads to the minimum Dst for this geomagnetic storm, suggesting that these changes in composition and possibly charge state of the solar wind ions may be associated with factors which enhance the storm intensity at Earth. These results suggest that this magnetic storm may be exceptional for being a recurrent storm and yet being associated with CME activities for its intensity enhancement. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union