COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91

File: 100896_sep96_decls8_0018.txt
Page: 0018
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

        Marines were in contact with the enemy. At this time 1/6 was already
        through the breaches and attacking Regimental objective C, and 2/2
        was pushing on to Regimental objective A. Still trying to come
        through the breach on Green lanes 5 and 6 was 118. By the afternoon,
        the division's front was an echelon of battalions, with 116, 2/2, and
        1/8 running northwest to southeast.(98) Security of the division's
        flanks was now a concern, requiring that some adjustments be made.

            On the right flanks in the proximity of Al Jaber airfield, (in
        the Ist Division's zone) our intelligence discovered a large
        concentration of enemy forces, and that had the potential to become a
        big threat. A special task force, named Vega, had been created to
        operate on this flank in the area between the two breach points.
        This force was composed of a reconnaissance company reinforced by a
        section of TOWs from 2d Tank Battalion. on the left flank there was
        also a considerable screen. The division's westward boundary was
        with the Joint Forces Command North (JFCN) forces. In the absence of
        a physical link-up, security of this flank was "in the air". The
        operation plan called for Tiger Brigade, with the mobility provided
        by its large number of armored vehicles to cover this area.(99)
        However, Until Tiger Brigade came through the breaches and took up
        position on the left, this flank would have to be covered by another
        of the division's assets. The lst Battalion. 6th Marines was already
        on the left and covered the flank until Tiger Brigade arrived in the
        area at dusk. The ist Battalion, 6th Marines was then able to move
        back to their own regimental area on the right.

             A new problem &rose as darkness settled upon the battle area,
e night. The
        number of enemy prisoners of war (EPWS) coming into the division's
        lines was becoming unmanageable. Second LAI Bn reported that
        approximately 3000 EPWs had surrendered by 1935.(100) Although the
        problem was greatly eased by the subsequent creation of two EPW camps
        at the flanks of the breach area, this difficulty in moving large
        numbers of prisoners out of the battle area would remain throughout
        the operation.


        11. COMBAT OPERATIONS - G-DAY+L

            G-Day+l began early, with the enemy firing upon 6th Marines with
        tanks and mortars at 0330. This was followed at 0655 by what has
        been called the "reveille counterattack." In a movement that was
        intended to hit the regiment's logistics trains, the 6th Marines was
        engaged by a Iraqi battalion-size armor and mechanized infantry
        force. Fighting back with their own tanks and air support, the
        regiment accounted for 39 Iraqi tanks and BMPs destroyed.(101)
        Despite this auspicious beginning, the division was not yet ready to
        move off in the assault to Division Objective 1. It was the
        Commanding Generalls intent to commit all three of the division's
        assault elements simultaneously to the attack. This would require
        waiting for the arrival of 8th Marines on the right flank, and
        realigning some of the subordinate units. The oth Marines were just
        leaving their assembly areas at first light. At 0550 they passed
        through the berm, moving on Blue lanes 3 and 4, and Green lanes 5 and


                                         II-is


                                         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