84                                  U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-i991


along Route 6 between Kuwait City and Basrah because there were so many
Iraqis waving something white.
    The 1st FSSG continued its resupply mission while processing the continu-
ous flow of enemy prisoners. RLT-5 continued as I MEF reserve in the vicinity
of Al Jaber airfield.
    The  1st  Platoon,  2d Force  Reconnaissance     Company   established  an
observation post within the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City on 27 February
discovering in the process that the Stars and Stripes were still flying and that the
Embassy appeared untouched, with Embassy vehicles present with full gas tanks.
The Recon Marines also discovered an enormous sand table in a Kuwaiti school
adjacent to the Embassy.  The sand table depicted the extensive Iraqi defensive
fortifications prepared in anticipation of an amphibious assault by U.S. Marines.
The extensive fortifications, to include bunkers, obstacles, and minefields, were
confirmed by the commanding general (CG), 1st MarDiv, who reported that the
beach fortifications in and around Kuwait City were indeed extensive and
formidable.  The numerous amphibious exercises conducted by the 4th and 5th
MEBs had obviously served their purpose.

                                G + 4/V-Day

    On 28 February, offensive combat operations ceased at 0800 local at the
direction of the President of the United States. I MEF prepared to assist the
Kuwaiti Government in clearing operations and civil affairs matters.  Both 1st
and 2d MarDivs had reached the limit of their advance with substantial combat
power forward in position to block any Iraqi retreat.  A preliminary statistical
review provided by the CG, I MEF, for the 100 hours of ground combat
indicated that U.S. Marines had destroyed or captured 1,040 enemy tanks,
destroyed or captured 608 enemy armored personnel carriers, destroyed 432
enemy artillery pieces, destroyed S FROG missile sites, with 1,510 enemy KIA
and over 20,000 enemy prisoners of war.    Marine casualties due to ground
action during this period were reported at 5 killed and 48 wounded in action.
Marine aviation losses since the initiation of the ground war on 24 February
amounted-to 2 fixed-wing aircraft. (Aviation losses following the initiation of the
air campaign but prior to the commencement of the ground war amounted to
four fixed-wing aircraft and one helicopter lost in action with two helicopters
lost in nonbattle mishaps.)

                                   V+1

    On 1 March I MEF continued operations in support of Operation DESERT
STORM. The 1st MarDiv remained in defensive positions in the vicinity of
Kuwait International Airport and Al Jaber airfield and prepared for retrograde
operations. The division continued to uncover Iraqi weapons, ammunition, and
equipment in its zone.  The 2d MarDiv remained in defensive positions in the
vicinity of Al Jahra, continued to process enemy prisoners, and destroyed enemy
equipment while consolidating its defensive positions.  RLT-5 was relieved of