10                                 U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-1991

but fortunately the brigade brought the 502d Support Battalion as part of its task
organization. The "Tigers" were as anxious for their proper support as were the
Marines with whom they would be operating. Accordingly, the two
service components made agreements over which classes of support would be
provided by each. The Marines provided support in Classes I (rations) and III
(fuel) and Common Class V (ammunition). The 1st Cavalry Division would
provide some Class IX (repair parts)      support and maintenance personnel.
Line-haul Support for the brigade would come from ArCent in the form of 20
heavy expanded mobility tactical truck refuelers, 20 5-ton tractors, and 40
40-foot trailers 32
    With the arrival of this important brigade, the division's assembly in theater
was complete. It now numbered more than 20,000 personnel, and contained a
large number of armored vehicles:  196 M1A1 tanks, 59 Bradley Fighting
Vehicles, 66 M60A1 tanks, 248 assault amphibious vehicles and     159 light
armored vehicles.33 General Keys planned now to task organize this highly
mobile and powerful force. In recent years Marine commanders had created
various "task forces" tailored to match the missions involved. But here, the
general saw no need for such organizations, with all they implied for temporary
attachments and their distinct functions.   He recognized that normal ground
doctrine permitted regimental task organizations using organic division units, and
there was really no compelling need for task forces. The division would enter
operations composed of two infantry regiments, an armored brigade, an artillery
regiment, and combat suppOrt battalions; it contained enough armored vehicles
and firepower to match- the highly mobile warfare which was anticipated. It was
therefore decided that the division would go into combat in the "triangular"
structure of three maneuver elements, familiar to commanders at all levels.
Support and taskings of the separate battalions would be ordered as needed by
the division headquarters. Also, General Keys-had confidence in his brigade and
regimental commanders, and he wanted them and their units to receive credit for
their accomplishments.35 This factor of trust was to be of importance in the
weeks ahead, giving an additional moral strength to commander and subordinate
alike. What T. E. Lawrence wrote of General Allenby, during an earlier desert
war, was equally true of General Keys: "Power lay in his calm assumption that
he would receive as perfect obedience as he gave trust.
    The tools were now at hand; the time had come to put them to use.

                       Movements and Training

    The 2d Marine Division formally established its command post in Saudi
Arabia on 14 December 1990, upon the arrival of the commanding general and
his flag from Camp Lejeune.37 Over the next several weeks, units continued to
arrive and join the division, retrieving their equipment which was arriving either
by ship, or by airplane, or on board the Maritime Prepositioning Squadron 1.
    Now that he was in the theater, General Keys believed his two most
important and immediate concerns were to train all units for the type of combat