WITH THE 1ST MARINE DWIS!ON IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM            43


                                       Panting by LtCol Koith A. McConncll, U5MCR
                       A V-8B being readied for a sortie.

only occupied by four reconnaissance teams from I MEF and the 1st Marine
Division.?0
   Soon after identifying the Iraqi brigade, the remote piloted vehicle discovered
a second brigade assembling east of the Al Wafrah Oil fields. General Boomer,
General Myatt, and General Keys were being notified of this development when
the remote piloted vehicle developed mechanical problems and returned to base.
The 3d Remote Piloted Vehicle Company at Mishab immediately replaced it with
one of its Pioneers and aerial surveillance of the eastern border area continued.
   Meanwhile, allied fighter/attack aircraft arrived and launched the first of
many air strikes against the Iraqis. The 1st Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison
Company (ANGLICO) supporting arms liaison teams (SALT) assigned to the
Saudi National Guard brigade deployed south of Khafji engaged two Iraqi
152mm guns with Marine A-6s. The attack put both guns out of action, but the
air strikes failed to halt the Iraqi armor. At about 2100, a fire control team from
1st ANGLICO near OP 8 reported hearing tracked vehicles. The attacking force
moved towards Khafji driving back the few reconnai~sance teams placed along
the border. As Iraqi forces closed on the city, the various detachments of Army
special forces, ANGLICO,    and force reconnaissance withdrew from their
observation posts at Khafji to Mishab. However, the main Iraqi attack came
suddenly and trapped two 1st Marine Division reconnaissance teams in Khafji.
   By the morning of 30 January, the enemy completed his occupation of the
city and prepared to defend it against the inevitable allied counter attack. The