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

through the first belt, followed by the 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, commanded by
Lieutenant Colonel Brian M. Youngs, on lanes Blue 3 and 4~1~2 Iraqi units
between the two minefields tried to delay the assault, but their efforts were
quickly suppressed. For instance, on lane Red 1, First Lieutenant Phillip W.
Chandler, the commander of a reinforced heavy machine gun platoon, was
supporting Company B,  1st Battalion, 6th Marines. While providing flank
security to the company, the platoon came under both direct and indirect fires.
Lieutenant Chandler maneuvered his platoon to fire on a bunker from which the
Iraqi fire was coming, and then personally directed an antitank vehicle into
firing position. The TOW missile destroyed the bunker, and 30 Iraqi soldiers
surrendered. The company was able to continue its advance through the breach
of the second obstacle belt.~53
    By 0745, the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, passed Phase Line Panther, at the
second breach, receiving sporadic fire.1~ Resistance stiffened as it moved north;
but to suppress these fires the regiment had the support of the division's artillery
and of Cobra gunships which were able to fly right over the Iraqi trenchlines.15S
By about 0850, the 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, conducted its breach of the second
minefield on lanes Blue 3 and 4.~~~
    Around this same time, the division's mobile CP crossed through the breach
lanes, in trace of the 2d Battalion, 2d Marines. From this point on, General
Keys remained at the front of the division, assessing the tactical situation, and
in constant contact with his commanders.157 It was from this mobile CP that
General Keys and Colonel Richard were to make those `immediate, local,
tactical decisions" by which they would lead the division for the next four
days.15~
    The Green lanes, carrying the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, were not as
quickly cleared as the Red and Blue lanes. Here several of the engineer vehicles
had struck mines and been put out of action. Line charges had caught on
overhead power lines, or had failed to detonate. Corporal George J. Morgan
and  Lance Corporal Gerald Randolph, members  of a  demolitions team,
unhesitatingly entered these dangerous areas. They set new fuzes to unexploded
line charges, ignited them, and raced back through the minefields with only
seconds to spare before the charges exploded.159
    It was soon evident that the minelaying in this sector was of a different
nature than that found in the other lanes. This minefield had greater depth and
a larger number of mines, and required a greater effort to clear them. In the
end, the original Green S was never cleared. Instead Green 6 became Green 5
and a lane to the southeast, originally intended to carry return traffic, became
Green 6. Even with this change, it was only at about 1145 that lane Green 5
was cleared, and 1345 before lane Green 6 was cleared and safe. In the opinion
of Lieutenant Colonel John D. Winchester, commanding officer of the 2d
Combat Engineer Battalion, the minefield at the Green lanes had been laid by
a different and more dedicated Iraqi engineer.1~
    On the right flank, the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, was also encountering
Iraqi troops in positions between the two minefields. Company A had the
mission of guarding the battalion's flank in this area; accordingly, the 3d Platoon