WrrH THE 2D MARINE DWISl0N IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM 37 such fires could be seen, and their smoke and hydrogen sulfide fumes were considered to be possible limiting factors in the assault. A visual check of the assembly areas revealed that they would be large enough to hold the attack forces. There were no obstacles to impede movement from the assembly areas to the cuts in the berm.1~ Opening passages through the berm became the issue. "The Berm," as it was familiarly known, was the most obvious physical feature on the broad expanse of desert to the division's front. Built by a Japanese firm for the Saudi government several years before, it was made by bulldozing the desert sand into a continuous wall, attaining a height of three to four meters. It paralleled the Saudi-Kuwaiti border, situated between one and five kilometers on the Saudi side. It was visible from about 10 kilometers away, and provided excellent Photograph by author LtCol Howard Shores briefs divisio73 guides on their expected operations, 23 February 1991.First Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Src Image |