168                                    U.S. MARINES IN ThE PERSIAN GULF, 199~1991


displacement we received a new mission as an infiltration force to secure the 1st
Marine Division's right flank.     Previously, the Task Force had trained in
virtually every conceivable mission, but the infiltration task was never a focus.
Although we had from our other training an appreciation of how the infiltration
task might contribute to the main attack forces--Task Force Ripper and Task
Force Papa Bear--the new mission was somewhat of a psychological shock to
Task Force Taro.      We were encouraged by MajGen Myatt's confidence in
assigning us such a critical task with minimum notice and         accepted our
supporting attack role with the understanding that we would have no armor, no
assault amphibious vehicles, no major mechanical or explosive breaching as-
sets. We would simply infiltrate at night on foot, with bayonets and rifles as
our principal weapons.
    The evening of 22 February we crossed the border into Kuwait on foot to
attack positions south of the Iraqi defensive barrier.  Throughout the daylight
hours of 23 February we remained undetected in harbor sites and prepared for
the infiltration.   Then, the evening of 23 February, crawling on hands and
knees, Task Force Taro infiltration forces penetrated the substantial Iraqi
minefields, barbed-wire obstacles, tank traps, and earthen berms. By sunrise the
lead elements had penetrated the barrier and initiated the clearing and proofing
of-three vehicle lanes for follow-on forces.


                                                                      IRAN

      N      IRAQ
      (      USARCENT 444 JFCN
                        4
                                      KUWAIT


                                      JFCN   MARCENT          -. P~r   *...
                                          k
                                          k


     SAUDI ARABIA             EGYPT              Al Jabar******************-


                              L]X
     Allied Force Deployment, SYRIA    USMC     j~MAR
       24 February 1991                       `1             I~.        *-- -


                                          uSMc