WITH THE 1ST MARINE DWISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM            95


of the thick smoke that often reduced visibility in that area of the battlefield to
less than 50 meters the two units maintained constant communications using 1st
Battalion,  1st  Marines, tactical radio net. The  frequent   cross-checking
successfully avoided friendly fire incidents while the LAVs and mechanized
infantry maneuvered against the Iraqis. By 1600 the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines,
reached the planned limit of its advance astride the "03' grid line. From the 1st
Battalion, 1st Marines, Company B covered the battalion's left flank; Company
A occupied the center on Hill 114; while Company D, which continued to sweep
the area for prisoners, was to take position on Hill 127 covering the right flank
(which it did at 1900 that evening). Company D was tied in on the right with
1st Tank Battalion.
   Both the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, and the 1st Tank Battalion fought amid
dense smoke. Unable to employ close air support and artillery, their tactics
relied on TOW gunners using thermal sights. In spite of poor visibility, the 1st
Battalion, 1st Marines, destroyed about 43 enemy vehicles and captured more
than 500 prisoners. The battalion lost three Marines wounded when an RPG
exploded in front of a scout vehicle.'59
   The drive by the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, set off a chain of events. When
the 1st Battalion proceeded north it encountered Iraqi units moving across the
division front. The battalion halted the southern flank unit of a brigade-size
enemy force, fixed it in place, and ultimately destroyed it. The other enemy
units continued through the smoke and the fog, pivoted south, and, at 0930,
collided  with the  1st Marine Division Command    Post; Company     C,  1st
Battalion, 1st Marines; and Company B, Task Force Shepherd (both companies
were reinforcing the forward command post). The first hint that something was
amiss occurred soon after Company B arrived. Commanded by Captain Eddie
S. Ray, the company had just gotten into position when one of its LAVs
suddenly fired into the fog. That caught everyone's attention. There had been
no radio communication and a quick check showed the firing to have been the
result of an   accidental discharge. However, no sooner did the    company
commander complete his investigation than 100 Iraqi soldiers appeared wanting
to surrender. Spooked by the 25min gun fire, their arrival at a location already
swept the previous day raised questions about what might be developing further
Out in the fog and smoke. At first, Marines around the command post could
only hear the low sound and rumble of moving tanks and vehicles. Then, the
smoke and fog suddenly lifted to reveal an attacking force consisting of five T-
55s, 33 armored personnel carriers, and some dismounted infantry.
   A vicious firefight erupted as Company B, Task Force Shepherd, and
Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, along with Marines assigned to the
division forward command element, responded with TOW, AT-4, 25mm gun,
and automatic weapons     fire. Burning enemy vehicles began to    litter the
battlefield. After an hour of fighting the Iraqis withdrew into the fog. Marines
around the division command post breathed a sigh of relief, none more so than
the radio operators and staff personnel working inside the canvas headquarters
tent.