AAR 1ST MARDIV IN SWA

File: 970725_dec96_decls34_0121.txt
Page: 0121
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




                      Lead elements from CAAT 2 and Team Mech reconned by fire with
             .ffjachineQL(nS, and AH-,l Cobras reconned the area from the air in
             addition to providing@,additional +Ianl,. security.?-,J-iav-ing received
             no   - e'nemy i i re -From ttie. ground and -el so an "al l- cl ear2' rcal I f rom
             th  -e. a-i r,, 1/7 bel i E@-vpd-@the .,quarry aban@Joned.                      Howeveri,t.,as fate
             pace .1 d                          sr    -.aj i; tt@* 4 t,& rose ; u;@         L.Gi
                 -q jibave,
                    ,. At 11-10, t@he Battalion +ounSi itsel:F, engaged in two
             SiMLII_taneOLtS fire r+ig@t-s with CAAT -1j,' RAAT @', Team-Mej@:h,, Team Tan@
             ,f,ot-Karg, and the Combat Train.,in..the rear.                               As the.lVpd -elements
             .pf,,the Combat Train. moved -forrwar.,d ,in., trace of . the 6-at_,tal ion, smal I
             arms fire was received from the qLiarry, an ambush. AT*yo-,,t4K-19
             ,vehicles travelling with the Combat                          - Train immediately,.,moved in and
             rIe@urn'ed fire.            Marines@,,.in AAV'.,,Ei-iand- @MMWV's dismourittpd-,LLnder
             enemy fire, qLLICI,ly 4gai.ned fir.2ng -posit-ions, and aggressively
             engaged the enemy.

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                      As the fire fight raged, Company C received a +rag order over
             the radio to assist.                  DiSMOLinted Company C swept throuoh the
             qLL,@.rr,, and destroyed the remaining threat with SLIpert support fror
             Its A@V Pl&tCOF,'S OLtrE.                  Upon-clearing the qltarry Company C,
             Mobile Dragons, STA and the Combat Train remounted and continued
             moving northward with the rest of the -Battalion to its Limit o4
             Advance (LOA).              Upon reachinq the LOA the Battalion stopped to
             aWEIlt fltrther orderb from Tasi Force Ripper.                                   Sporadic small arms
             fire was ta@L-r-, by CAAT '@ 4rc)u, a small built up area 6C)C) meters
             northwest o4 the battalior,.                      The "Chici,en Force"; as one Marine
             called it, was immediately engaged with 5C) cal , Ml,-19 and LAAWS.
             Additionally., 6C)fT,m and Blmm mortars as well as "dander close"
             artillery fires were bought to bear on the enem@.                                         The sporadic
             enemy small arms fire ceased. Moments after the indirect fires
             stopped, der@nc-ss once aaaln engL@l-Fed the day as clouds of blaci
             srriol e rol I L-d over the Battal i on around 151C).                            "GAS, GAS, GAS", was
             called over Battalion TAC I 'seconds after Tas@ Force Ripper
             reported oas at their position.                           1/7 Marines calmly donned and
             cleared their- rras[s while the NBC: Officer, Chief Warrant DificE-r
             Larry Srydet-, once ac3ain went to wor@, and tE-5"ed our area 4or-
             CC)r)tamlnatlc)r.           After negative readings were observed the "cll
             elect" call was civen by LiLLItL-nant Colonel Mattis, and the
             E,&@ tE'l i or, prep Er-E-i to con t i nLtC- I tS attack,






                                                        UNCLASSIFIED