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Subject = AWARD RECOMMENDATONS                                            

Folder Title = AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS                                                                           

Parent Organization = 1 MEF       

Unit  = 2ND MARDIV  

Box ID = BX600094

File Cabinet = Week-51 

File Room = dec96_classified    



                                       UNCLASSIFIED


                                PROPOSED SUMMARY OF ACTION

              For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving
        as the Commanding Officer, let Battalion, 6th Marines.
              During the period 24 through 27 February 1991, Lieutenant Colonel
        Jones lead the Ist Battalion, 6th Marines (Reinforced) in a series of
        highly successful, deliberate and hasty attacks as part of OPERATION
        DESERT STORM. These attacks lead directly to the overwhelming success
        experienced by the 2d Marine Division during the same operation.
        Lieutenant Colonel Jones continually distinguished himself by leading
        the battalion and coordinating its movements from forward positions
        without regard for his own personal safety.
              On 24 February, G-day, Lieutenant Colonel Jones led let Battalion,
        6th Marines in a deliberate attack against enemy fortified positions
        arrayed in two separate minefield belts covered by machine gun, tank,
        mortar and artillery fire. Stationing himself close to the two lead
        breaching companies, he ensured that during this complex attack, two
        breaching lanes, Red 1 and Red 2, were quickly established to allow
        follow-on movement of reinforcements from the 2d Marine Division into
        the breach-head. Despite artillery and mortar fire, chemical mines, and
        the loss of several armored vehicles in the minefields, Lieutenant
        Colonel Jones pressed his battalion forward through the breach to
        consolidate the critical left shoulder of the 2d Marine Division breach
        site.
              Rapidly assessing information collected from captured prisoners and
        documents, Lieutenant Colonel Jones realizing that, once the battalion
        was through the breach,       it faced into the exposed flank of the 14th
        Iraqi Infantry Division. Unhessitatingly he ordered an immediate, swift
        and devastating attack. Quickly passing one company forward to attack
        with two companies up, Ist Battalion, 6th Marines quickly rolled up the
        majority of the entrenched enemy of two infantry brigades. By the end of
        the day the battalion had exceeded all of its first day objectives,
        taken over 2000 prisoners and much of the enemy division's artillery.
        As the day closed,        Lieutenant Colonel Jones quickly positioned the
        battalion into a strong, hasty defense, ensured close coordination with
        his own and adjacent units and readied the battalion for the next day's
        assault.
              Continuing the attack on the following day into the midsts of a
        still dazed enemy, he led the battalion forward under hostile artillery
        fire into an unforseen situation where heavy fog, smoke and rain reduced
        visibility to less than 100 meters. Despite this handicap, Lieutenant
        Colonel Jones vigorously pursued the enemy and led a devastating attack
        to overrun trench lines, capturing large numbers of enemy, destroying 15
        enemy tanks and 11 BMPs. Again staying well forward and, exposing
        himself to hostile fire, he maintained positive control of the battalion
        under    the extremely trying conditions of reduced visibility and
        continued to coordinate the attack until darkness fell. Under reduced
        visibility Lieutenant Colonel Jones untiringly directed the readying of
        the battalion for possible enemy counterattack and coordination with the
        units on both the battalion flanks to prevent casualties from friendly
        fire. After successfully ensuring his assets were tied into a good
        hasty defense,      he again continued the preparations to continue the
        attack on the third day.
              The next day, Lieutenant Colonel Jones again aggressively attacked,
        exploiting the previous day's success, to quickly overrun enemy mortar
        and artillery positions. As his battalion continued to sweep north into

                                               I


                                   UNCLASSIFIED

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Document 27 f:/Week-51/BX600094/AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS/award recommendatons:03249710492223
Control Fields 17
File Room = dec96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-51
Box ID = BX600094
Unit = 2ND MARDIV
Parent Organization = 1 MEF
Folder Title = AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS
Folder Seq # = 240
Subject = AWARD RECOMMENDATONS
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 = 24-MAR-1997