COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91

File: 100896_sep96_decls8_0022.txt
Page: 0022
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




                                  UNCLASSIFIED


         the passage of these forces were immediately begun. At 0450, the
         FSCC informed all units that there would be no firing north of PL
         BEAR. By 0555, Tiger Brigade had completed making liaison with the
         Egyptians. By 1000, the irck forces were passing through the
         division's lines on their way into Kuwait City.(121)

             For the remainder of the day, the division's units remained in
         their positions along PL BEAR, clearing any pockets of resistance
         within their sectors. During the day an order was sent to clear the
         6th and Oth Regiments' zones past PL OX and into Al Urthamah and the
         port of Al Dohah. This was to commence at 0900 on G-Day+4, 28
         February. This was later changed to an on-order mission. During the
         night the order was received to cease offensive operations at 0800 on
         that day, and the division cancelled its order to clear the
         zones.(122)

             During the 100 hours of combat in which the division was engaged,
         it amassed an impressive amount of enemy equipment and troops: 13,676
         prisoners; 533 tanks destroyed or captured; 127 artillery pieces
         destroyed or captured; 291 armored personnel carriers destroyed or
         captured; and 45 pieces of AAA destroyed or captured.(123)


         13. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS AND WITHDRAWAL FROM KUWAIT

              With the curtailing of offensive operations, the division was
         given the mission of defense in zone. Eighth marines (Rein) occupied
         the right third of the divisions AOR, 6th Marines (Rein) occupied
         the center section of the division's AOR, and Tiger Bde occupied the
         left third of the division's AOR. The two major tasks confronting
         the division were the destruction of captured Iraqi equipment/
         ordnance and planning for the eventual withdrawal from Kuwait.

 division units discovered
         large stockpiles of Iraqi equipment and possible enemy headquarters
         sites. Two of the more significant finds were the Iraqi 3d Armor Bde
         headquarters, located by 3d Bn, 23d Marines on 1 March, and traces of
         nerve and blister agent detected by a division NBC Fox vehicle at a
         suspected abandoned Iraqi chemical unit site on 12 March. Soil
         samples taken from the site were turned over to the Joint Captured
         Materials Exploitation Center. In addition to uncovering caches of
         enemy equipment, the division was heavily involved in locatincit
         identifying, and marking unexploded ordnance and mines. For the
         remainder of the divisions' stay in Kuwait, unexploded ordnance was
         the greatest hazard faced by division Marines.
             On 2 March, "Task Force Freedom", consisting of engineers and
         vehicle mechanics, supported by tank and AAV retrievers, was sent to
         clear a passable lane along the coast road south to the Saudi border.
         Further execution of the withdrawal plan was put on hold by order of
         USCINCCENT pending Iraqi acceptance and compliance with ceassfire
         terms. While awaiting permission to proceed back to the port of Al
         Jubayl, the division concentrated on much needed equipment
         maintenance.




                                           II-22


                                          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