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


                                             Department of Defense Photo (USMC)
Gunners of the 10th Marines fire their M198 howitzer against iraqi positions in Kuwait.

breach. Up until this time the division had a policy of attacking targets with air,
and leaving the division's artillery quiet in order not to disclose its locations to
the enemy's counter-battery radar. Now General Keys released his artillery to
conduct its own counter-battery fires to attack these priority targets.1~
    The development of the breach and movement plans was going well, so it
was necessary to ensure everything would be physically set for the start of
offensive operations. An important part of the breach sequence plan called for
the various elements of the division to be staged at six assembly areas behind the
Saudi berm. These areas had been designated as Red 1 and 2, Blue 3 and 4, and
Green 5 and 6, each corresponding to one of the approach lanes which led to the
breach site. lEach was to be large enough to hold a battalion-sized unit and its
combat support vehicles and equipment. At first these areas were identified on
the plans, maps, and overlays simply as large "goose eggs" centered around
specific coordinates. As G-Day approached it was necessary to physically inspect
the berm, designate the precise coordinates at which the cuts would be made
through it, and make a physical inspection of the ground selected for the
assembly areas.
    On  17 February, a party of officers from the division's Headquarters
Battalion went forward to perform this work, under the direction of Lieutenant
Colonel Mark Swanstrom. Using the global positioning system, they confirmed
and marked each cut point. By coordinating with the reconnaissance teams and
LAl sections stationed along the berm, and by their own visual inspection of the
forward areas, they ensured that there were no obvious problems along the
routes selected as approach lanes. The most significant features evident were the
numerous fires in the vicinity of the ojifield at Umm Gudair North. At least 18