U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-1991

  During a 22 February attack on Iraqi trenchlines by a section of FIA-18s, an
Iraqi soldier was observed coming out of the trenches with his hands in the air.
The F/A-18s orbited the target and contacted I MEF ground forces, who
dispatched an LAI patrol to the location.    Transfer of control of the enemy
prisoners was effected between the aircraft and the armored vehicles-another
Marine Corps first.
  Deception operations continued on 22 and 23 February in both divisions'
zones as offensive preparations were finalized.     Forces moved to the line of
departure, passed through breaches     in the first obstacle belts, and began
screening operations to secure the flanks. Engineers also completed earthwork
for Marine artillery positions north of the border on the 23d.

                                     G-Day

  G-day, the designation for the commencement of ground operations, was 24
February 1991. 1 MEF spearheaded the ground attack for the Coalition Forces,
with 1st and 2d MarDivs breaching the Iraqis' obstacle belts and penetrating
deep into Kuwait.   The 1st MarDiv led the attack in its zone at 0400 local,
penetrating the first and second Iraqi obstacle belts against moderate Iraqi
resistance.  The 2d MarDiv followed at 0530, also penetrating the first and
second obstacle belts with little Iraqi response. Later, CinCCent would lavish
accolades on the Marine breaching operations, stating that military professionals
would study these classic operations for years to come.
  Task Force Shepherd, the 1st LAl Battalion, provided screening operations
in the Al Wafrah and Al Burgan oil fields for the 1st MarDiv, engaging enemy
tanks south of the Al Jaber airfield.  Other 1st MarDiv elements, the 1st, 3d,
4th, and 7th Marines, organized as combined arms task forces, breached the
obstacle belts and, by day's end, captured I MEF Objective A, the Al Jaber
airfield, while consolidating positions around the airfield and the Burgan oil
field. (See Map 3.) The 11th Marines provided artillery support to assault
elements throughout the day. Bomb damage assessment for the day included 21
enemy tanks destroyed and over 4,000 enemy prisoners of war at a cost of 1
killed in action (KIA), 9 wounded in action (WIA), 3 damaged tanks, and 1
damaged light armored vehicle.
  The 2d LAI Battalion provided screening for the lead elements of 2d
MarDiv.     Once through the obstacle belts, the Division, with the 6th and 8th
Marines, and the 1st Brigade, 2d Armored Division (U.S. Army), with artillery
support from the 10th Marines, temporarily consolidated its positions to defend
against a reported enemy armored column moving out of Kuwait City.       This
column was engaged and defeated by a combination of ground and air delivered
weapons, and the division continued the attack, capturing by day's end an intact
enemy tank battalion with 35 T-55 tanks and over 5,000 enemy prisoners of
war, to include a brigade commander, at a cost of 1 KIA and 8 WIA.