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

overwhelmed allied efforts to collect and transport the prisoners from the earliest
hours of the ground war.
   While some forces, particularly those near the Iraqi army 3rd Corps head-
quarters outside Kuwait City, fought fiercely for short periods, they usually
surrendered after allied troops destroyed the first tanks and artillery pIeces.
   In some cases, Iraqi officers, fearful that they would be killed crossing the
battlefield to surrender, sent their enlisted troops ahead with orders to lead the
Americans back to the officer bunkers so the leaders would then turn themselves
in.
   One captured senior Iraqi commander told Marine Col. Ron Richard, plans
chief for the Marine 2nd Division, that the Iraqis referred to the Marines as
"Angels of Death," originally believing that they would kill every soldier in their
path, leaving no prisoners.
   Even though some small-scale riots erupted at some of the overcrowded
prisoner collection points when American forces first began distributing food and
water, most U.S. troops said the Iraqi forces appeared happy that they could
finally surrender.