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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
                                                                   rp

             PL RED, the Regimental Commander and Operations officer dismounted
             from the Alpha command AAVC-7 and moved in the CO's HMMWV to the 2d
             Marine Division Mobile CP.  After conferring with the Commanding
             General and G-3, they moved to the 6th Marines' CP.   Upon conferring
             with Col Livingston, the decision of exactly what time (1leOC) to
             chop let Bn Sth Mar back to 8th Marines was made and lateral
             coordination established.  At this time the 65 grid line was agreed
             upon as the boundary between the two regiments.   Between 09eO and
             1100(C) the Regiment had: 1) received its frag order from 2d MarDiv,
             2) developed the regimental scheme of maneuver, 3) issued Frag Orders
             to subordinate units and 4) prepared to move forward.   At 1100 Ist Bn
             Sth May was reattached to Bth Marines and at 1315 the 8th Marines
             attacked forward, in zone, with the rest of 2d MarDiv to PL HORSE.
             Company C, 4th Tank Bn, which was supposed to have been attached to
             8th Marines several days prior (on 22 FEB 91) finally joined with the
             Regiment immediately prior to crossing PL RED.   Movement from PL RED
             to PL HORSE was with 2 battalions forward and one back.    Second Bn
             4th Mar -aas on the left half of the Regimental frontage,  from grid
             line 65 to 68, and Ist Bn 8th Mar was on the right side,   from grid
             line 68 to 71.  Third Bn 23d Mar assumed blocking positions on the
             right flank and Company C 4th Tank Bn(-) was the Regimental reserve.
                  As forward progress continued the Regiment moved further into
             the areas affected by the burning oil fields at UMM GUDAIR and AL
isibility was
             reduced to 1/4 mile. The use of Close Air Support (CAS) was
             essentially terminated due to poor weather and lack of visibility (by
             both FAC's and aircraft) until weather improved two days later.     By
             150e the smoke cover was heavy enough that the regiment was moving
             forward in essentially night time conditions. The darkness was so
             severe that maps and other printed material could only be read with
             the aid of artificial light sources.   Second Bn 4th Mar and Ist Bn
             Bth Mar were in and out of contact with the enemy throughout the
             movement to PL HORSE.   The Regiment finally consolidated at
             Regimental Objective 'A', PL HORSE at approximately 2e3O.    It was
             during this consolidation and clearing phase that 2d Bn 4th Mar,
             under very poor visibility conditions, was involved in an exchange of
             friendly fire with the unit on their left boundary, 2d Bn 2d Mar
             (attached to 6th Mar). Fortunately the exchange was quickly halted
             and no significant injuries were received (one Marine from 2d Bn 2d
             Mar was reported as having a very minor flesh wound).
                  The Regiment was prepared to move forward on the 26th at first
             light. The Regimental Commander attended a 090e Commanders
             Conference, and returned to the Regimental CP at 1100.    He iossued a
             verbal FragO to his commanders to move forward as quickly as
             possible, in that 'speed is of the essence'. The mission was to be
             astride PL BEAR prior to nightfall, to cut off the Iraqi escape route
             from Kuwait City. Second Reconnaissance Battalion was chopped in DS
             of the Regiment and each lead battalion was assigned a company in
             direct support. By 1215(C) all units of the regiment were moving
t PL BEAR. The
             Regiments right boundary moved inward to the 70 grid line at this
             time (refer to operations overlay).   Second Bn 4th Mar and lst Bn Bth
             Mar both arrived on Phase Line BEAR at approximately 1700 after
             encountering sporadic resistance during the advance forward. It was
                                                7
                                                                     ENCLOSURE (I)



                              UNCLASSIFIED

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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