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                                                                    `Az


The following-narrative is provided as an herioc event taking
~lace'~d~uring' ~~t1~~~tt'~1io'h'6 :12th Marines participation in
Operat~oh~Desi~~t~S~~r~~?i': &--`~`£`-
 ~~a~ ~`~   :~~e
.`r:ootThedB~tt1ea~r ~~h&'~~i~'-the first~ major ground action of
thsn~ar~~wLs~a~bap~ttn':for~ma'~ny Marines arrayed against the
Ir~qti~l~n~~indiv.~~a"t~Leadership was key to the rapid
res~onse of the Marines.    Nany of these leaders, although in
comba~t'for?:the first'~time, performed flawlessly and
6emonstrat~d~ great .`~oura~e.
     A-good exampletof-this courage and leadership is the
case of.Battery C,- lstfBattalion; 12th Marines, and its
C0m'maflder~ -Captain SteVe Morgan.  `Under circumstances which
~~u~d~cause many men to hestitate, -Capt Morgan unhesitating
brought his battery     consisting of eight M198 l5Smm
}{owit:ers - to bear on the enemy.
     Shortly after midnight on 29 3a~ 91, Iraqi forces
invaded Saudi Arabia and took control of Khafji.     The ~rd
Marine Regiment, the US unit closest to the scene,
immediately began to counter this force.     Made up of three
battalions of footmobile infantry, the Regiment realized that
it would be some time before the battalions could be moved to
~hafji to check the Iraqi advance.     The artillery, however,
with its greater mobility   (5-ton trucks) could be moved up
immediately to engage.    The order was passed to 1st
Battalion,   12th Marines to deploy one artillery battery
forward just south of ~hafji and establish communications
with recon elements in the city.     For protection, 3rd ~arines
ordered a detachment of mobile TOW missiles and     .se caliber -
machine ~uns to accompany the battery.     This detachment was
to link up with the battery enroute.
     When Captain Morgan received his marching orders, he
wasted no time.     After briefing his Officers and Staff
NCO's, the battery assembled and moved out.     As soon as C
Battery reached the main highway for the dash north, Capt
Morgan realized the gravity of the situation.     The scene was
absolute~chaos, with both- lanes of the highway jammed with
civilians fleeing )Chafji, as-well as, Saudi and Oatari forces
retreating south as fast as possible.     The two lane highway
was clobbered with civilian cars, APC~s, tanks, tractor
trailers and they were four lanes abreast in some areas.     The
bat~tery threaded its way `through the jumble, alternately
racing forward and braking often.
     When the battery reached the linkup point, the security
detachment was not there.    Capt Morgan waited anxiously for a
few moments; he knew that the importance of the mission would
not allow him to wait forever.     Establishing contact with
1/12, the Battalion Commander, who had been forward earlier,
ordered him to move out to his assigned position.     The
situation was in doubt, but it was felt the Iraqis had to be
stopped at Khafji and not allowed to move south.
     Charlie occupied a position along the highway about 6
kilometers south of ~hafji,   dangerously close, should th~
Ir~qis.punch-through the thin ~e~enses in the city.

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