WITH THE 2D MARINE DIVISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM            45


shape prevented easy removal, so the best way to dispose of them was to blow
them in place. 148
   Gunnery Sergeant Mart J. Cuip, the noncommissioned officer in charge of
a demolitions team, was therefore especially busy this morning. His expertise
was required at several of the lanes where unexploded mines or line charges
which had failed to detonate were preventing the clearance of the lanes and the
movement of the assault battalions. Time and again he entered the minefields,
supervising the setting of demolitions charges and personally activating the
fuzes. In Spite of occasional Iraqi artillery and mortar fire, Gunnery Sergeant
Culp and his team helped to clear three lanes and allow the assault to continue. 14@
   The use of chemical munitions by the Iraqis had been expected, but happily
bad not yet occurred. At approximately 0656, the "Fox" chemical reconnaissance
vehicle at lane Red 1 detected a "trace" of mustard gas, originally thought to be
from a chemical mine. 130 The alarm was quickly spread throughout the division.
Since everyone had been required to don his protective outer garments and boots
the previous evening, it was only necessary to hurriedly pull on a gas-mask and
protective gloves to attain MOPP level 4. A second  Fox" vehicle was sent to
the area, and confirmed the presence of an agent which had probably been there
a long time. Unknown in origin, it was still sufficiently strong to cause blistering
on the exposed arms of two AAV crewmen.151 Work continued on the clearance
of the lanes, and the MOPP level was reduced to 2 after about a half-hour.
   The first lanes to be opened were Red 1 and 2 through which the 1st
Battalion, 6th Marines pushed.  At 0724, the battalion reported it had passed


                                                              Photograph by author
Marines don fu ii chemical protective equipment (MOPP level 4) during general chemical
alefl on 24 February 1991.