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


                                      Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 0787 24 91
The division commanders and their staff officers gather for a sandtable &ercise. From
right, MajGen William M. Kevs and MajGen James M. Myatt (1st Manne Division),
observe the training, afier which MajGen Kevs would advocate changing the I MEFpian
from a single- to a two-division breach to avoid congestion and gain greater freedom of
maneuver for his division.


1300 on the day of the attack, whether the second breach could be accomplished
before dark. If not, it would take up defensive positions for the night~in the zone
between the defensive belts, and the second breach would be made at first light
on the following day. This could mean that the division might take 30 or more
hours to penetrate both belts and establish the breaches, a long time to be a
target to the indirect fire weapons employed by the enemy to cover his defensive
lines. During this time the 2d Marine Division would wait, perhaps under fire,
in its attack positions, unable to influence the battle.
     On 22 January 1991, when the MEF staff held its sand-table exercise for
both divisions, Major General Keys became convinced that the current plan had
to be improved. He saw the area was not large enough for two divisions to
maneuver, presenting too great a target. It would take too much time to get both
divisions through the single breach site, and not enough combat power could
be moved forward quickly.~
     These issues were discussed by the division's staff, which was searching for
a better solution to the breaching problem.  The 2d Marine Division was
fortunate in having Lieutenant Colonel Howard P. Shores II attached as its 1st
Marine Division liaison officer. Lieutenant Colonel Shores was an especially
thorough  officer, whose  capacity for hard  work  gained him  immediate
acceptance among the 2d Marine Division staff. He had been in Saudi Arabia