3D ARMORED DIVISION ARTILLERY HISTORICAL SUMMARY ODS PHASES III

File: 970815_sep96_decls15_0004.txt
Page: 0004
Total Pages: 11

Subject = 3D ARMORED DIVISION ARTILLERY HISTORICAL SUMMARY ODS PHASES III

Parent Organization = ARCENT

Unit = VII CORPS

Folder Title = VII CORPS ARTY-BOOK 3-COMMANDER REPT-TAB I-3D AD ARTY HIST SUMM PHASES II-VI VOL 17C

Document Number = 3

Box ID = BX000313

G+I, 25 FEBRUARY 1991

The 2-3 FA Gunners conducted stand to at 0430 hours on the 25th of
February. In the 2D brigade zone movement started at 0551 hours. At 0641
hours, the DIVARTY started movement as the Division continued the mo@'ement
to contact. MOPP level II was still in effect. The 2-3 FA was moving at
0830 hours. The Division proceeded with it's plan to move into a wedge
formation in the vicinity of PL Melon. The 4-7 CAV/CAS screened the
Division right -Flank along the division boundary with I ID. The 2D
Brigade was in the lead in the center of the Division zone, while the 3D
and IST Brigades followed behind on the left and right flanks. The
Divarty HO continued to move directly behind 2D Brigade, and between 1ST
and 3D Brigades. The 1-27 FA moved with C battery in the western half of
the Division zone behind the 4-18 IN and the other two batteries moved in
the eastern half of the zone. The direct support battalions continued
moving with their supported brigades, and 4-82 FA maintained control of
the 0-37 radar and a metro section.

At approximately 1000 hours, the Divarty S-3 dispatched a liaison
party to link-up with the 4-7 CAV (Saber) at a contact point on the 3 AD
and I ID boundary. The 4-7 CAV was to secure the area through which the
42 FAB "Wheelhorse" would enter the 3 AD zone. Meanwhile, 4-82 FA with
the Division's IL-ad brigade stopped temporarily +or re-Fuel operations. At
approximately 1100 hours the Divarty liaison party established contact
with Saber 6, LTC Tucker, the commander of 4-7 CAV at the designated
contact point (grid NT 770565). At 1105 hours, 2-3 FA was ordered to be
prepared to receive 2-29 FA. At 1241 hours the liaison party made contact
was made with COL Morris J. Boyd, the commander 42d FAB, and LTC Faircloth
and LTC Stratman of the 3-20 FA (Diamond Back) and 2-29 FA (Pathfinders)
battalions respectively. The 42D FAB was composed of their HHB and the
two 155mm self propelled (SP) Artillery Battalions. The plan was to move
the 42 FAB to signal node center 60 at grid NT 490510 to rearm, re-Fuel,
and receive medical attention if necessary. Node center 60 was south of
Phase line Melon, but the Division had already passed PL Melon and was
rapidly moving towards Phase Line Vegas. Given the circumstances, the
Divarty Commander, COL John F. Michitsch, directed that the 42D FAB link
up with the Division as soon as possible. The Commander of the 42D FAB,
COL Boyd, reported no serious shortfalls in Class III or V. No additional
logistical support was deemed necessary. Therefore, the 42 FAB was
directed to expeditiously move northward to join and reinforce the
Division. The liaison officer notified the Division TAC of the link-up
plan to move 2-29 FA into zone first behind the IST Brigade and then to
bring the 42D FAB HHB and 3-20 FA to a point along the 3D Brigade and IST
Brigade boundaries, and to then follow that boundry Northeast to link up
with Divarty and the 2D Brigade. The "Wheelhorse" Brigade responded
accordingly, and immediately began to move. The 2-29 FA "Path-Finders"
were the first to move into the 3AD zone as the 1ST Brigade passed. The
reinforced unit, 2-3 FA, sent LT Soley their Recon Survey Officer, to meet
2-29 FA and facilitate the transition. Next, the Wtieelhorse Headquarters
and Headquarters Battery (HHB) along with the 3-20 FA moved west toward
the center of the division zone then turned north traveling parallel with
the Division Support Command convoys. This movement was designed to
effect a link up with the HHB Divarty, which was still an the Move, in an
expeditious and orderly manner. The 3-20 FA mission was to conduct link
up operations with 4-82 FA, which was in the front and center- of the
Division zone, and assume a reinforcing mission.