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


                                             Drawn by Sgt Charles G. Grow, USMC
Drnwing of iraqi prisoner of war captured south of Al Jaber, 24 February 1991.

struck a unit of enemy armor. The final target that day occurred at 1434 with
a call for counterbattery fire against an enemy mortar position. A single accurate
volley brought about the surrender of an entire mortar platoon.118
    The lack of pressure against Task Force Taro allowed Colonel Admire to
reinforce and assist the mechanized task forces. During Taro's approach march,
Colonel Admire transferred one of the 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, companies to
Task Force Ripper for enemy prisoner of war handling. During the day concern
over congestion at the primary breach lanes prompted General Myatt to have
Task Force Taro's combat engineers open another lane in its zone. Myatt wanted
to use the additional lane to disperse and speed up the movement of artillery and
resupply columns. He initially planned to use Task Force Papa Bear's lanes for
this purpose. An early reassessment of traffic flow and the lack of enemy
resistance prompted him to simply increase the number of available lanes. At
0856 the division G-3, Lieutenant Colonel Jerome D. Humble, transferred two
M6OAi tanks with track-width mine plows to Colonel Admire and Taro's
combat engineers began opening a second lane. By 13~00 they successfully
cleared, proofed, and marked two additional lanes. The tanks rejoined Task
Force Papa Bear at 1500. Colonel Admire also  released Company C, Task
Force   Shepherd, once Task Force Taro completed the establishment of its
blocking position.
    In spite of the release of an infantry company to Task Force Ripper to assist
in  handling enemy  prisoners of war, the  volume  overwhelmed   Marine
preparations. While making its breach of the second obstacle belt, Task Force
Ripper ran into a determined Iraqi defense. It also encountered thousands of
enemy soldiers attempting to surrender. Their numbers swamped the prisoner of
war handling teams and threatened to delay the main attack.
    "At this time," wrote Gunnery Sergeant Paul S. Cochran, 3d Tank Battalion,
"POWs started appearing from everywhere. A total of approx 300 to 350 were