WrrH THE 1ST MARINE DWISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM            29


   At first, the threat was only against the border observation posts. There were
eight police stations that had been turned into observation posts by the Marines,
numbered 1 through 8. Only OPs 4, 5, and 6 were in the 1st Marine Division
area. Of these, OP 4 was the most important. It was strategically located at the
 heel" corner of the border between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, 60 miles west of
the coastal highway. A large force breaking through could go in any number of
directions, including towards the Marine supply base at Kibrit.
   The police stations were similar in appearance, each located on slightly
undulating terrain characteristic of the area. Observation Post 4, known to the
Saudis as the As-Zabr Police Post, consisted of a castle-like main building and
two towers constructed out of brown stone. To the north of the castle was a
white one-story concrete structure housing the electrical generator that provided
power to the complex. Some small trees, a fenced-in area, and a water tower
completed the station compound.
   The station bisected the wall of sand, called a `1berm," that extended the
entire length of the Saudi-Kuwaiti border. The berm was not actually on the
border, but ran several kilometers inside Saudi Arabian territory. An invading
force coming from the north would have already entered Saudi Arabia by the
time it reached the wall of sand. On the other hand, a force coming from the
south still had some distance to traverse before reaching Kuwait, giving the
enemy time to react. Thus, the berm had both advantages and disadvantages.
Often as high as 15 feet, the wall of sand blocked all vehicle movement across
it and intentionally channelized traffic toward the police stations. That allowed


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                                          Drawing by Sgt Charics 0. Grow, USMC
HMAfWV used as a remote receiving station for the remote piioted vehicles supporting
the 21-22 Jrn~uarv 1991 artillery raid.