COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91

File: 100896_sep96_decls8_0017.txt
Page: 0017
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      UNCLASSIFIED 0

         sector was of a different nature than that found in the other lanes.
         Here the minefield had greater depth, and a larger number of mines
         requiring a greater effort to clear them. In the end, the original
         Green lane 5 was never cleared. instead, Green lane 6 became Green 5
         and the one return lane to the southeast became Green 6. Even with
         this change, it was about 1145 that Green lane 5 was clearedt and
         1345 before Green lane 6 was cleared and safe. in the opinion of the
         2d Combat Engineer Battalion Commander, the Green lane minefield had
         been laid by a more dedicated enginser.(94)

             By 1020, all three assault battalions were reporting that they
         were in contact with the enemy.(9S) This would continue to be the
         situation over the next three days of the war. As elements of the
         division approached MEP, division, or regimental objectives, they'
         would encounter enemy resistance. Through the execution of rapid
         maneuver and the skillful application of firepower, the Iraqis were
         overwhelmed. By outflanking them and destroying their heavy
         equipment with air and artillery fares the division gave the    Iraqis
         the choice of surrendering or dying where they stood. In the
         thousands they chose the former.

             The division continued to flow its combat power through the
         breaches in accordance with the breach sequence table published         in
         the frag order. By 1250, the 2d Tank Battalion had gone throught as
         had the 10th Marines' forward command post. By 1410, the Tiger
         Brigade's tactical operation center (TOC) was in the breach site,
         followed close behind by the division's own forward command post.(96)

             while the division's breach operations were going well, the

         division, and the control elements in the assembly areas. The
         group's original position was right at the entrance to the breach of
         Blue lane 3. By moving about two kilometers, good communication was
         restored, and the orderly control of the division's movement was
         continued. At 1600, the Tiger Brigade was called out of its assembly
         area and moved in two waves along all six lanes. With the sun
         setting on G-Day, Tiger Brigade had cleared the breach, with 3/10
         leaving its firing positions and following close behind. Darkness
         brought a halt to the division's movement through the breach. By
         that time, a preponderance of combat power had been established on
         the far side. The units which had successfully passed through were
         the 6th Marines, with its three battalions plus 1/8, Tiger Brigade,
         2d Tanks, 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, and 2d LAI Battalion. The
         majority of the division's artillery was also forward. 2d Bn, 10th
         Marines had gone through with 6th Marines, and 2/12 had been called
         forward at 1430, after receipt of 2/10's firecap. First of the
         Third, Field Artillery had gone through with Tiger Brigade, and 3/10
         had come in behind them.(97) This successful conduct of the breach
         and the rapid movement of the division was vital to the success of
         the campaign. Even in these earliest moments of the ground war, the
         exploitation of tactical opportunities and rapid execution of orders
         had become the standard by which the division operated.

             The conduct of the first day of battle had gone exceptionally
         well. As noted above, by 1020 all three assault battalions of 6th


                                            II-17


                                       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