COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91

File: 100896_sep96_decls8_0014.txt
Page: 0014
Total Pages: 31

Subject: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91            

Unit: 2ND MARDIV  

Parent Organization: 2 MEF       

Box ID: BX600014

Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10  JAN - APRIL 1991                                

Document Number:          3

Folder SEQ  #:          4


                          0        UNCLASSIFIEDO

         and approached by 30 Iraqi troops and five APCS. Under the cover of
         a Harrier airstrike and artillery fire, the team withdrew from their
         position and was extracted by the LAI company attached to the 6th
         Marines.(74) The battalion's mission ended on G-Day-2 and all teams
         were back by 0124, 22 February.(75) The battalion now prepared for
         its G-Day mission as assigned by Frag Order 16-91.

             Another battalion also crossed the berm prior to G-Day. Starting
         on G-Day-3. 21 February, Frag Order 16-91 tasked 2d LAI Battalion
         with screening the division's front and flanks on the Kuwaiti side of
         the berm. The battalion was to "attempt to identify any gaps in the
         obstacle belt and locate an alternate breach site for Tiger Brigade
         in the northwest."(76) This latter task was an especially important
         consideration should the division's main breach effort fail or be
         held up by the enemy. An alternate breach site would have allowed
         Tiger Brigade to project its heavy armored power around the
         division's flank and pull the remainder of the division through the
         breach. Although important as a contingency plan, in the end this
         was not needed.

             Within an hour of beginning its operation, 2d LAI was in contact
         with the enemy. Mortar fire was received, and in one of the more
         dramatic incidents of the operation, a HMMWV carrying a LAAD team-
         attached to 2d LAI Battalion received a direct hit.(77) Previously,
         the LAI Commander had ordered that windshields be removed from all of
         the HMMWVs and 5-ton trucks to minimize the hazards from shattered
         glass. The round impacted in the rear of the vehicle, with the force
         of the explosion pushing the occupants, LCPL Robert M. Grady and LCPL

         vehicle was destroyed, both were unhurt, emerging from the vehicle
         literally without a scratch. Apparently, their personal gear and
         other equipment absorbed the effects of the blast. Upon returning    to
         the division command post and being interviewed by the Commanding
         General, their only request was for another vehicle so they could
         return to the fight.
             over the next three days, 2d LAI Battalion continued aggressively
         to fulfill its mission. Moving back and forth across the berm, the
         battalion sought out and reported information on enemy troops,
         activities and equipment. operating almost continuously under small
         arms and indirect fire, the battalion's companies engaged enemy
         troops, artillery and tanks on at least 17 separate occasions, using
         their own TOWS, artillery from 10th Marines, and close air support.
         From G-Day-3 through G-Day-1, the battalion accounted for 150 enemy
         KIA, six enemy tanks destroyed, and the capture of 150 EPWs.(78)
             one major consideration for the employment of 2d LAI as it went
         into Kuwait on G-Day-3, was that 2d Reconnaissance Battalion would
         also be operating in front of the division until G-Day-2. In order
         to coordinate movements and to prevent the possibility of friendly
         casualties, 2d LAI Battalion began its screening mission in the
         northwest corner of the division's zone, and systematically worked
         its way across the division's front over the three day period. This
         enabled 2d Reconnaissance Battalion to complete its surveillance



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                                       UNCLASSIFIED

Document 31 f:/Week-35/BX600014/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10 JAN - APRIL 1991/command chronology for the period 1 jan to 13 ap:100196125355
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-35
Box ID = BX600014
Unit = 2ND MARDIV
Parent Organization = 2 MEF
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10 JAN - APRIL 1991
Folder Seq # = 4
Subject = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 AP
Document Seq # =
Document Date =
Scan Date =
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 = 01-OCT-1996