COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR 1 FEB TO 28 FEB 1991

File: 121096_aug96_decls2_0004.txt
Page: 0004
Total Pages: 15

Subject: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR 1 FEB TO 28 FEB 1991                     

Unit: VARIOUS MC  

Parent Organization: 2 MARDIV    

Box  ID: BX600007

Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH MARINES  - 1-28 FEBRUARY 1991                                            

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:          1




                                             UNCLASSIFIED




                                           SECTION 11


                                       NARRATIVE SUMMARY (S)


                                            OVERVIEW

                 The month of February was punctuated by the long expected ground
             phase of Operation 'Desert Storm'. During the four day period, 24 -
             27 FEB 91, 8th Marines, as part of 2d Marine Division, I MEF, along
             with other coalition air, ground, and sea forces attacked Iraqi
             positions inside of Kuwait, routing enemy forces and liberating
             Kuwait'from Iraqi occupation. Extensive preparations during previous
             days, weeks, and months made the success of this operation possible.
             During February, as part of the overall operation, Bth Marines
             conducted 3 major displacements bringing the Regiment from assembly
             areas south of Kibrit, Saudi Arabia, to screening positions on the
             southern Kuwaiti border, then via the southwestern Kuwaiti border
             through breaches in Iraqi defenses and finally to the outskirts of
             Kuwait (rity and Al Jahra, Kuwait. Thes'e displacements culminated in
             one of the most successful ground campaigns in this century. During
             the 2d Marine Division's drive from the southwest corner of Kuwait to
             Kuwait City, the 8th Marines constituted the right front and right
             flank of the 2d Marine Division. This drive was the decisive phase
             of coalition military efforts to oust Iraqi forces. This effort
             began on 17 JAN 91 with a massive air campaign which continued around
             the clock throughout the entire operation. The result of these
             efforts was the virtual destruction of the Iraqi military, the fourth
             largest in the world. The ground campaign resulted in a four day
nits of Sth Marines were
             responsible for the destruction of dozens of Iraqi tanks, APC'S, and
             vehicles, hundreds of Iraqi'casualties, and over 1,2ee Iraqi Enemy
             Prisoners of War (EPW's). Eighth Marines units suffered only 2 KIA
             and 25 WIA in combat related accidents. Details of the regiments
             actions will be found in the remainder of this chronology and in the
             supporting documents and chronologies of subordinate units.


                                        COMBAT OPERATIONS


                 The commencement of defensive and limited offensive operations
             with a high potential for aneny contact began on 7 FEB 91 when Sth
             Marines and subordinate units performed a relief in place (RIP) of
             6th Marines along the Saudi/Kuwait border from grid OS 733356 to TM
             175575 (refer to WarningO 1-91, FragO 5-91, FragO 6-91, and
             associated overlays, Section IV). Iraqi forces had previously
             conducted probing attacks across the border in this area and were
             deemed capable of conducting further limited offensive actions.
             Overall, 2d MarDiv was conducting covering force operations along the
             southern Saudi/Kuwait border, from the southwest corner of Kuwait to
             an area below the eastern most portion of the "Kuwaiti National
             Forest", an agricultural and forested area on the central southern
             Kuwait border. First Marine Divis3"6n oc&upied positions on the
             western flank and Saudi forces were on the eastern flank of the
             division. The relief in place began on 7 FEB 91 and was completed by

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                              UNCLASSIFIED

Document 15 f:/Week-34/BX600007/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH MARINES - 1-28 FEBRUARY 1991/command chronology for 1 feb to 28 feb 1991:12069615401634
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-34
Box ID = BX600007
Unit = VARIOUS MC
Parent Organization = 2 MARDIV
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH MARINES - 1-28 FEBRUARY 1991
Folder Seq # = 1
Subject = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR 1 FEB TO 28 FEB 1991
Document Seq # = 1
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 = 06-DEC-1996