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


fortified trenches, bunkers, dug-in tanks, and artillery. These rapid, sharp
engagements helped the battalion to quickly seize and secure its objective.163 On
the right, the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, was still coming through the breach on
lanes Green 5 and 6. It then moved into an Iraqi brigade-size position in which
it destroyed a large number of tanks and APCs.1~
    These early actions set the precedent for the next three days of the war. As
elements of the division~moved forward or approached objectives, they would
encounter enemy resistance. But through rapid fire and maneuver, the Iraqis
were overwhelmed. By outfianking them constantly, destroying their heavy
weapons with air and artillery fire, the division gave the Iraqis the choice of
surrendering or dying where they stood. Thousands of them chose the former.
    As the 6th Marines moved forward through its regimental objectives, the
division's combat power flowed through the breaches as planned in the breach
sequence table published in the frag order. At 1250, the 2d Tank Battalion went
through, as had the 10th Marines' forward command post. At 1410, the Tiger
Brigade's tactical operation center (TOC) was in the breach site, followed
closely behind by the division's own forward command post.l&~
    On this first day, one of General Keys' prime concerns was the passing of
the 6th Marines and the Tiger Brigade through the breach as quickly as possible
to face any counterattacks.1~ The responsibility for the coordination of this
important movement was with the breach control group.
    The division's breaching operations and initial assault had gone well, but the
breach control group started to have difficulty communicating with either the


                                    Photograph courtesy of Co John B. Sylvester, USA
The Ttger Brigade moves into Kuwait, passing through the minefield "green" lanes
cleared by 2d Marine Division on 24 February 1991.