WITH THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM            55


Hodory followed 1st Tank Battalion with his command group and 1st Battalion,
1st Marines, which immediately turned southeast to cover the right flank.
Meanwhile, the engineer task force completed two additional lanes and moved
to the northern side of the minefield where it rearmed for the second breach.
   During the next several hours Task Force Papa Bear gradually expanded the
breachhead while preparing to penetrate the next obstacle belt. The forward air
controller with 1st Tank Battalion directed a series of Cobra and Harrier strikes
against enemy tanks and positions near the proposed breach site. The air attacks
destroyed two tanks, two observation posts, a mortar position, and bunkers.
Meanwhile, fire support and scout teams from the 3d Battalion, 9th Marines,
began reconnoitering the second obstacle belt, but enemy direct and indirect fire
interrupted the attempt. Colonel Hodory countered with further air strikes by
a section of Cobras and four AV-8B Harriers. Under the direction of an OV-
10 FAC(A) the Marine aircraft destroyed another forward observation tower,
two more mortar positions, two T-55 tanks, and one bunker.
   By 1205 all of Task Force Papa Bear's assault battalions and Colonel Hodory
with the "Alpha" command group were through the first breach. Colonel Hodory
moved north and completed arrangements for breaching the second minefield.
With Task Force Ripper getting ready for its swing west at Al Jaber, General
Myatt wanted Task Force Papa Bear quickly through the second belt. He needed
it to cover Ripper's flank, and to establish a breachhead large enough for the
landing of Task Force X-Ray before darkness made movement too risky. Yet,
the Iraqis were clearly alert and seemed determined to resist. This made a hasty
breach necessary and Colonel Hodory began consolidating and repositioning the
task force for the assault. At 1400 the task force combat trains were on the north
side of the first breach and ready to support follow-on Operations. By 1500, the
1st Battalion, 11th Marines, had completed its displacement to a new position
north of the first belt and began neutralizing Iraqi positions. Meanwhile, amid
sporadic artillery and mortar fire, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, started deploying
for the assault on the second obstacle belt. As the Marines neared the minefield
they got their first sight of the burning wellheads of the Al Burqan Oilfield.
   By 1320 everything was in place and Colonel Hodory sent the 3d Battalion,
9th Marines,   against the second obstacle belt defended by the Iraqi 22d
Brigade,  5th Mechanized Division. The same problems with line charges
experienced by Task Force Ripper and Task Force Papa Bear's first breach
continued. At 1600, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, obstacle-clearing detachments
successfully opened lane 2. The effort to clear lane 1 stopped when an anti-
tank mine knocked out an M-60A 1 roller-equipped tank. The tank blocked the
lane. Lane  1's combat engineers began work on   another lane while the
battalion's assaulting companies moved to lane 2 and started through. No sooner
had the first company penetrated the minefield than it engaged five T-55 tanks
attempting to withdraw and destroyed two. The assault force pressed on to
widen the breachhead. Then, enemy mortar fire fell on the advancing Marines
causing 10 casualties among a group clearing bunkers. While corpsmen treated
and evacuated the wounded, the 3d Battalion continued its assault on the 22d
Brigade's trenches. Assisted by AH-lW Cobras, artillery fire from 1st Battalion,