AAR 1ST MARDIV IN SWA

File: 970725_dec96_decls34_0096.txt
Page: 0096
Total Pages: 130
Subject = AAR  1ST MARDIV IN SWA                                          

Parent Organization = MCCDC       

Unit = WDID        

Folder Title = AFTER ACTION REPORT 1ST MARINE DIVISION IN SOUTHWEST ASIA   WDID SWA 0073                       

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX600145


                                   UNCLASSIFIED

                           ANECDOTES FROM THE GROUND CAMPAIGN

                     (Written by Col C.J. Quilter USMCR, I MEF G-3H)

                                       The Breaches

               During the night before G-Day, a reconnaisance marine with
           two combat engineers from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, of ist
           Marine Division's Task Force Taro infiltrated across the first
           minefield. Their mission was to surreptitiously mark a-lane so
           that Taro could traverse the danger zone'safely on'@foot.,somewhat
           to their surprise, they found themselves uncomfortably close to
           trenches and bunkers whereupon they were discovered by Iraqi
           troops. They quickly went into a combat stance, and then shot an
           enemy soldier who was attempting to firb':first. This was followed
           by commotion as'some forty other Iraqis immediately surrendered
           to the trio. Confronted by this unexpected situation, but-
           undaunted, the Marines successfully shepherded their now
           prisoners back through the minefield.

                       The Breaches (contid) - The    Traditional Way

              Colonel Janes A. Fulks, 45, commands the 4th Marine Regiment
           and Task Force Grizzly, an infantry force of the ist Marine
           Division. They were tasked with breaching a single minebelt, 15
           miles south of al Jaber airfield, and then to screen the left
           flank of mechanized Task Force Ripper from direct fire. By
           February 16th, Grizzly had actually marched 20 kilometers into
           Kuwait - the first significant retaking of Kuwaiti territory -
           and set up its jump off areas. The only problem was that Remotely
           Piloted Vehicles and human reconnaissance was unable to locate a
           lane through the minefield.

              Fulks now ordered the commander of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines,
           Lieutenant Colonel Tim Hannigan, to infiltrate the mine belt b),
           force on the night before G-Day. Hannigan's first problem was
           resolved by Iraqis who began walking through the minefield to
           surrender. The new enemy prisoners of war now obligingly marked
           the lane with chemical lights provided by the Marines. Then to
           the dismay of Fulks and Hannigan, a second unreported minebelt
           was discovered. This had evidently been emplaced to discourage
           retreating by the Iraqi defenders.

              This s6cond difficulty vas resolved in traditional Marine
           fashion: Staff S;rgeant ReGtifo of the Engineer-Platoon took his
           bayonet and probed for mines quietly in the darkness, marking a
           footpath as he went. Two companies passed through the second
           mine,@ield by 0200 of G-Da via Restifols path, which was soon
                                      Y
           enlarged to allow passage of the artillery of 5th Battalion, iith
           Marines.

                               Direct Fire Hits by the M198

              "HI' Battery of  3rd Battalion, 14th Marines from Richmond,
           Virginia, is commanded by Captain Paul Brier.     On Febraury 25th,





                                  UNCLASSIFIED