WrrH THE 2D MARINE DWISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM             13


Muth III, had gone forward on 29 January to the vicinity of the large sand berm
which marked  the Saudi-Kuwaiti border. Their mission was        to make  a
reconnaissance of a new site for the CP.53 However, the events of the next three
days would preclude any such movement.
   On 29 and 30 January the Iraqi forces conducted a series of probes along
the southern border of Kuwait. Although they never seriously engaged 2d
Marine Division forces, these actions postponed the possibility of any forward
movement of the CP by the division's headquarters. At the same time, the
division staff had been developing recommendations for changes to the MEF
operation order. Their major proposal tasked the 2d Marine Division to conduct
a separate breach in an area more north and west than that originally planned.
These changes were tentatively approved by the MEF Commander, Lieutenant
General Walter E. Boomer, on 1 February; when he finally ordered the change
on 6 February, the need for the division to move forward in its present zone was
ended .~~
   But occupying an entirely new defensive sector was now necessary. To place
itself in the best position from which to launch its attack, the division had to
move west and north, through the 1st Marine Division's sector and around the
"heel" of the Kuwaiti border to the area known as the "elbow." This movement
of an entire division across the enemy's front was a considerable risk, especially
if confronted by an active enemy with accurate intelligence gathering assets.
Fortunately, it was obvious the Iraqis did not have a good intelligence collection


                                         Depanment of Defense Photograph (USMC)
Marines train with .50-caliber heavy machine guns aiu' LAV-25 vehicles on the
~Thunne'erholt Range" in Saudi Arabia.