AAR 1ST MARDIV IN SWA

File: 970725_dec96_decls34_0123.txt
Page: 0123
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




                                                G+:S


                As the sun rose. Kuwait -City stood amazingly in front of the
          Battalion.    BecaLuserof -restricted visibility the day prior many of
          tqe,amarig.esn @In                              howclose we were.
          Company-C awoke tci*-Vllb'Ot+owrt*fully@fur)ctionalsbutnabandoged ZPU
                         ':jd
          23 4 AAA.Guq      irectly..to,their..-Front.
                BI owi r)g *orn. #tnd.-ran0amtshats -coul'd be heard throughout our
          pq?s@i.tion as.jubilant.@.Kuwai.tip wayed.Kuwaiti,   British, and American
          f.1-ags-in.cel.Vbration o4.,tt)e'l:'r..liberation.. Great.-pride was written
          across the +aces of.out::Sail-cirs and Marines. Remarkably we made
          ii'with.'no deaths arld prily)tpi;nor,.inJut7ies.. At 0600 CSSD-17 linked
          upland conducted a fuel# "i@tprl,and ammunition resupply and 1/7
          held in its blocking position for the remainder of t-he day. Our
          presence sent a definite message. 1/7..found..itsel-F%-in a strange
          p6iltion as several EPW.'-s"tur-r)ed themselves into us so they Would
          not be killed by Kuwaiti.R 'stance Forces. We were-now
                                        .
          protecting the Iraqis.
                Some hovqver did no@rNzrit our. prot@-   ation.   As Company A 1/7,
          our detached infantry c8qpany with Tiger 3, was conducting a sweep
          in zone, they came across A wounded Iraqis. While Cpl I'lerry Lee
          was searching one of them, the Iraqi lunged at Cpl Lee, and was
          instantly l.illed t)
                              .y the.Marli;kp.,,Stanclir)g cover for him.
          O@ierall OL[r 9DA was 1.9 T-54/ZS',s$ 18.T  .-62's, 2 7-72's, 2 82mm
          Mortar Positions, I Radar Dish, 17 Trench Systems, 2 BMP'S, 1 AF'C,
          I Astros Launcher, 2 531:    S, l@ BTR 5()/60's, I T-12, 1 MTLB,-I DP
          Tower, 6 Artillery Pieces, and the uncovering of well over 20C)O
          EPW'S.


                                               6+4

                The big news is spreald-throughout the Battalion swiftly; a
                                                      Nevertheless,-the Battalion
          continued its normal routine. 'Five wounded EPW'.s were halo                  5 U.S.C.
          medevaced from 1/7's BAS by CH-46's to a rear area hospital. A
          Marine -From Compiny C, Lance Corporal @@was struck by a stray552
          round in the upper arm and slightly injured.          As rui:eutenantt
              nel Matit@ik rWici3J.Rd,,qye,@-ryqne@'@Jt ain't over ti I- thEF '+at lady r (b)(6)
              r.g. ar)d                         I ain't siiiig yet.@l' I
       DS It'@99 The 13a@@alion subsequently moved further south of the city to
          avoid possible terrorism and stray -fire 4Lor celebrating Kuwaitis.
          No further enemy contact was made by the Battalion.
                OLtr comrades from Charley Engineers were detached at this
          time in order to commence de,5truction of enemy equipment In zone.
          Shipmates since March 11990, we hated to see them go.
                On 6+7 1/7 mounted up and with Task Force Ripper began.its
          SOL-thward movement towards Si@Lidi Arabia.      Our mission was
          complete. We would be home soon'.








                                       UNCLASSIFIED