WITH THE 1ST MARINE DWISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM             41

The T-55 was there only a few minutes when a section of A-lOs arrived on
station and destroyed it. The two aircraft were soon reinforced by a section of
F/A-18s and another section of A-i Os which gave Captain Shupp the firepower
he needed to return to within TOW missile range of the police station.
   The engagement took place in daylight and, for the first time in the fighting
around the police stations, both sides were able to clearly see the other. They
proved evenly matched. What the LAV-25s lacked in firepower and armor was
compensated by their maneuverability, well-trained crews, decisive command,
a section of LAV-ATs, and effective air and artillery support. On the other
hand, the Iraqi unit now in front of Company A consisted of about 18 T-55
tanks  sporadically supported by artillery. The Iraqis lacked     air cover.
Nevertheless, their firepower and armor protection of the tanks made it a
difficult force to stop. Once past Company A, the LAVs of Companies B and
D were still the only ground units between the Iraqis and Kibrit, though the 3d
Tank Battalion from Task Force Ripper had begun moving north.
   For the next hour, a combination of air, artillery, and anti-tank missiles kept
the enemy tanks on the Kuwait side of the berm. The two abandoned Iraqi tanks
north of OP 4 came under fire from a section of A-i Os and Captain Shupp,
unaware that the tanks were unmanned, found his movement of Company A
constrained by the need to keep his left flank clear of their guns. Once it became
clear that the Iraqi armor was neutralized, Captain Shupp began thinking about
getting refueled and rearmed. The company's continuous movement and constant
firing during the course of the entire morning left many of the LAV-25s low on
fuel and ammunition. Initially, Captain Shupp considered withdrawing but the
lack of Iraqi aggressiveness led to his decision to maintain his position and have
the ammunition and fuel vehicles come to him.
   Confronted by the strong Marine defense of the border posts the Iraqis began
to give way and retreat back to Kuwait following the dawn engagement with
Company A. The sight of the T-55s and T-62s pulling away electrified the
Marines. Company A immediately drove up to the berm to bring the Iraqis
under fire and Captain Shupp called in AH-lW Cobras against more distant
vehicles. To this force Lieutenant Colonel Myers brought up Company B and
positioned it on the berm to the southeast of Company A and he moved
Company D to the northwest of Company A. For the next two hours, the three
companies called in air and artillery strikes on the withdrawing Iraqis. The last
enemy tank destroyed by Task Force Shepherd was hit by an antitank missile
fired from an LAV-AT attached to Company B. They later counted 22 destroyed
Iraqi tanks and within the next several days captured several hundred enemy
prisoners of war.~
   Though the Iraqi attack had ended, the border area remained tense.  Over
the next several days while the enemy concentrated on Khafji, Iraqi mechanized
units returned to harass the Marine observation posts. However, aside from the
flow of demoralized Iraqis surrendering, nothing developed and the border
gradually settled down as each side prepared for the allied offensive.
   Marine ground commanders     were puzzled by the Iraqi attacks on the
observation posts. The enemy failed to use its artillery to any appreciable