3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR

File: 081996_jul96_decls1_0081.txt
Page: 0081
Total Pages: 269

Subject: 3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR                 

Box  ID: BX001301

Document Number:          3

Folder Title: OPORDS AND  COMMAND AND CONTROL                                                                 

Folder Seq #:          4

Unit: 3D AD       

Parent Organzation: VII  CORPS  










                                      V. FAA BUTTS t-n In


             From 17  Febthrough 22 Feb the brigade occupied FAA i3UTTS and
        -Finalized its...Pr-epLaration for combat. During occupation of FAA BUTTS
        guidance about the'actual G-Day was conflicting (the division directive
        was that we were     G'-2 and holding). The brigade was operating under the
        guidance and intuition of COL Higgins who -Felt that events would unfold
        much faster than we may expect . The primary -Focus was continued NBC
        training and NBC equipment checks. The staff continued to refine the plan
        and conduct detailed coordination with the 2ACR. Dueing the-irritial
        movement, the brigade would trail the 2ACR almost all the way to OBJ
        COLLINS if all went according to the plan.        During coordination the 2ACR
        indicated that despite intelligence reports to the contrary he had no
        indication of enemy forces in along the brigade axis of advance. The
        biggest concern of the brigade was the marking of its movement axis to the
        LD and ensuring the lanes thru the border berm were identifiable to the
        task -Forces. On 220600 Feb the brigade lined up for its movement to cross
        the LD. The brigade lined up in its brigade column formation in 6
        columns with TF 4-8 as the brigade center line, TF 4-18 on its left and
        3-8 CAV on its right, and the R# filled in behind each TF. The brigade
        was on a very narrow frontage of 3Km with only 500m between lanes. The
        brigade plan was move to the LD and to cross the LD
        with the brigade on line and battalions in column. This would facilitate
        movement of the brigade through the cuts in the border berm. The 2ACR had
        the responsibility for selecting and cutting the border berm between Saudi
        Arabia and Iraq to facilitate passage of both the lst and 3d Armored

        ACR to -Facilitate command and control a-F the brigade and subordinate units
        during the crossing. Upon crossing the LD (just on the north side of the
        berm) the brigade would then transition to the brigade wedge and assume
        its advance guard formation. On 23 Feb 91 the brigade was ordered to
        begin taking the PB pills in anticipation of possible chemical use.
        24060OFeb9i (G-day), 2d Bde attacked in zone behind the 2ACR screen as
        the 3AD advance guard. The division plan called for the brigade creep
        forward behind the 2ACR (specifically lst Squadron) and to complete the
        day either the south side of the LD or astride the LD at the conclusion
        of B-Day. The brigade commander had hopes of placing at least one TP
        forward of the LD tat day to facilitate the briagde transition to the
        wedge and advance guard formation. However,, as the 2d ACR, meeting
        little resis -tance. pushed farther than originally anticipated the brigade
        continued i             moveme.-it and subsequently crossed the LD, Saudi-Iraq
        border appr.           241430FEB91..The brigade was ordered to continued the
        attack and _           bd to MOPP II on the move. By 1800 hrs that night
        the brigade            ng an PL COLT and established a night time lager
        position i n.           formation. During the night the brigade received
        instructions  to establish a 5KM buffer zone on its left +lank with the IAD
        to prevent possible -Fratricide.

Document 269 f:/Week-28/BX001301/OPORDS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL/3ad history of operation desert storm and spear:0816961333481
Control Fields 17
File Room = jul96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-28
Box ID = BX001301
Unit = 3D AD
Parent Organization = VII CORPS
Folder Title = OPORDS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL
Folder Seq # = 4
Subject = 3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date = 18-JUL-1996
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 16-AUG-1996