8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91 12 APR 91

File: 970107_aug96_decls2_0013.txt
Page: 0013
Total Pages: 60

Subject: 8TH TANK BN  COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91  12 APR 91     

Unit: 8TH TANK BN 

Parent Organization: 2 MARDIV    

Box  ID: BX600007

Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991                                           

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:          5





                                              UNCLASSIFIE[Y



                Line Bear and enter Kuwait City.
                   The above planned advance on 27 February ig9i was postponed by higher
                headquarters. At 1212, 6th Marines passed that the attack would commence       on
                the morning of the 28th and to stand by further instructions.
                   At 0500 on the morning of @ca February 1991, Bth Tank Battalion was prepared
                to implement its portion of the operation initially planned for the previous
                day. At 0500, "B" Company, the battalion's lead element for its tactical
                march from its assembly area in the quarry to the battalion's attack position
                reported it was at the start point for its advance march. Shortly afterward,
                the battalion received a message fro% regiment directing it to hold in place
                and to await further instructions.
                 . At 0606 on 28 February 1991, 8th Tank Battalion received from regiment the
                cease fire message from the Commanding Benerall I MEF directing all forces to
                cease offensive operations, remain in their positions, assume a defensive
                posture and be prepared to resume offensive operations on order. The
                battalion acknowledged receipt of the message at 0610.
                   Following the receipt -of the cease fire message of 28 February 1991, 8th
                Tank Battalion remained in its defensive position at the rock quarry awaiting
                further orders. This period immediately after the cease fire was a period of
                maintenance and recovery for the battalion in anticipation of renewed
                operations once the political and military situation became clearer.
                                               I Mar - 31 Mar 1991
                   For reasons of health and safety, the quarry position the battalion found
   .itself in was unsatisfactory for use as an extended bivouac site. 8th Tank
                Battalion got permission from regiment to move to a new position closer to
                Phase Line Bear and to the southwest of Jahra (vic UT 65154366). The new
                position also had the advantage of being adjacent to the Sth Ring Motort4ay to
                facilitate an eventual retrograde movement back to Saudi Arabia. The
                battalion movement was conducted in good order and without incident. During
                the movement, the battalion's personnel were cheered by Kuwaitils along the
                route, producing a tremendous morale boost. The gratitude of the Kuwaiti
                people was well received by the battalion.
                   On 10 March 19131, Sth Tank Battalion was detached from 6th Marines and
                returned to independent battalion status reporting directly to 2d Marine
                Division. On 11 March 1991, the battalion received permission to move to       a
                new position southwest of Kuwait City (vic UT 735335). This new assembly       area
                allowed the battalion to establish a secure perimeter isolated from civilian
                areas. Being back in the open desert provided many advantages in the areas -if
                health and sanitation, dispersion, and security. The battalion conducted the
                move in good order and without incident.
                   On 13 March 1991, the Battalion Commander, LtCol M. D. CAVALLARD, had the
                opportunity to meet the U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait along with several members
                of Congress. During this general time period, the battalion received several
                notable visitors. On the 15th of March, a reporter for the Syracuse Post
                Standard, Stephanie Sibb, spent the night with the battalion in order to
                report on Syracuse Marines serving in SWA. On 19 and 20 March, key staff
personnel were interviewed by a Combat Assessment Team from Headquarters
                .Marine Corps. The team was here to attempt to gather lessons learned while
                memories were still clear and fresh.
                   On 24 March 1991, the 8th Tank Battalion was visited by nationally
                syndicated cartoonists Barry McWilliams and (31enn Eure. The cartoonists were
                particularly interested in sketching Marine tankers at work and collecting war
                time anecdotes.
                   Throughout the month of March, 8th Tank Battalion continued to maintain all
                of its tactical and operational capabilities in support of the 6th Marines and


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                                                UNCLASSIFIED

Document 60 f:/Week-34/BX600007/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991/8th tank bn command chronology nov 90 to mar 91:01029709504317
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-34
Box ID = BX600007
Unit = 8TH TANK BN
Parent Organization = 2 MARDIV
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 8TH TANK BN 26 NOV - 31 MARCH 1991
Folder Seq # = 5
Subject = 8TH TANK BN COMMAND CHRONOLOGY NOV 90 TO MAR 91
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 02-JAN-1997