100 Days, 100 Hours: Phantom Brigade in the Gulf War

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, "PHA TOM B IGADE" IN THE by EDGAR A. STIlT

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PHANTOM BRIGADE"IN THEGOLF WAR

by EDGAR A. STITT

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PUBLICATIONS COMPANY

C opyright © 1991 by CONCORD PUBLICATIONS CO. 603-609 Castle Peak Road Ko ng Nam Industrial Building iO/F, B1, Tsuen Wan lew Territories, Hong Kong II ri g hts reserved. No part of - is publication may be reproduced, s-ored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any eans , e lectronic, mechanical,

FRONT COVER UPPER PHOTO: The victor and the vanquished. A Bradley sits beside a captured Iraqi BMP-1 as Apache helicopters fly over.

p hotocop ying or otherwise , without

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the prior written permission of

A Type 69 Chinese built Iraqi tank abandoned by Iraqi forces retreating out of Kuwait. Note the 1OOmm shell to the right of the soldier inspecting the tank.

Concord Publications Co .

LOWER LEFT:

We welcome authors who can help expand our range of books. If you would like to submit material, please feel free to contact us. We are always on the look-out for new,

Left side front view of an abandoned Iraqi T-72M.

LOWER RIGHT: A4th Bn ., 66th Armor M1A1 flying the American flag shortly after the Feb. 28 cease fire.

BACK COVER UPPER PHOTO:

unpublished photos for this series.

Line up of M1A1s during a range firing shortly before the beginnin;J of the war against Iraq.

If you have photos or slides or

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information you feel may be useful to

U.S. soldiers from the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. inspect an abandoned Iraqi BMP-1 APC still in its revetment.

future volumes, please send them to us for possible future publication. Full photo credits will be given upon publication.

LOWER LEFT: An abandoned T-72M Iraqi main battle tank belonging to the f. edina Republican Guard Division. Note the vehicle's crew left in such haste . ey didn't even remove the main gun cover.

LOWER RIGHT:

ISBN 962-361-023-8

Printed in Hong Kong

M113A3 APC. View from right rear.

All photos in this book are U.S. Army photos by SS~': . Edgar A. Stitt unless otherwise stated.

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Introduction n Nov. 9,1990, the 3rd (Phantom) Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, garrisoned in Aschaffenburg, Germany, was notified to prepare for deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield. The brigade would be attached to the 1st Armored Division, VII Corps, in order to provide the U.S. forces there with an offensive capability in the stand-off with Iraq. The deployment of an already forward deployed unit was not only unheard of, it was also unpracticed. A major requirement was for all M 1A 1 tank and M2A2/ M3A2 Bradley crews to rotate through gunnery training at the large American training area in Grafenwoehr, Germany. Although the brigade's combat vehicles were either being prepared for shipment or had already been shipped, the problem was solved by using tanks and Bradleys from other 1st Armored and 3rd Infantry Division units to fire gunnery tables with. The 3rd Brigade began its deployment to Saudi Arabia on Dec.14. By Dec. 28, the last 3rd Brigade units had arrived at the Intermediate Staging Area (nicknamed the Dew Drop Inn) near Jubayl. The threat of an Iraqi spoiling attack required the brigade to immediately deploy to tactical assembly area (TAA) Thompson in the Saudi desert. The first unit to arrive with all of its equipment was the 4th Battalion, 7th Infantry. However, the scarcity of heavy equipment transporters and the continuing requirement to get out into the desert resulted in the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry road marching 380 kilometers to the TAA. Once in the TAA the 3rd Brigade continued the desert training they had begun in the ISA. This period of maneuver and gunnery training climaxed with a 150 kilometer full-up brigade movement to contact rehearsal. As the Jan.15, 1991 deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait neared, the fear of an Iraqi spoiling attack across the border increased. The 4th Battalion, 7th Infantry was attached to a task force which had the mission of counterattacking any Iraqi ventures across the border. At about 0200 hours (Saudi time), Jan.1?, the brigade's radio net crackled with the news of the launching of cruise missiles against Iraq and the beginning of the air offensive. The war had started. The brigade moved from the TAA to forward assembly area (FAA) Garcia in preparation for the ground campaign against Iraq. In his many talks with his commanders, staff and soldiers, the 3rd Brigade commander, Col. James C. Riley, emphasized the concept of "move, set, strike". The brigade had moved successfully from Germany to Saudi Arabia , they had set in the TAA and FAA. On Feb. 24 at 1600 hours, the brigade struck. They crossed the Saudi-Iraqi border and advanced on the Iraqi logistical center of AI Busayyah. After moving through the sporadic Iraqi defenses northward toward AI Busayyah, the 3rd Brigade received the order to attack east towards their main objective: Iraq's feared Republican Guard. The brigade was the lead brigade for the 1st Armored Division and the VII Corps. The brigade slammed into the Republican Guard like a sledgehammer. During the four day ground campaign, the brigade engaged the Iraqi 26th Infantry and 17th Armored Divisions as well as the Tawakalna, Adnan and Medina Republican Guard Divisions. The 3rd Brigade destroyed 105enemy tanks, 70 enemy armored personnel carriers, 64 enemy trucks and 4 enemy artillery pieces. The number of Iraqi soldiers killed was unknown,

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but over 800 Iraqis chose to surrender to the 3rd Brigade. During the war the brigade suffered one soldier killed in action and thirty wounded in action. The cease-fire at 0800 hours (Saudi time), Feb.28 ended the conflict. Although it took some time to get the word out to the Iraqis that the war was over, no major incidents occurred after the cease-fire. The brigade rested for a few days before being ordered to move north into southern Iraq to assume control of highway 8 and freeway 1 and act as a security and stabilizing force in an area covering approximately 1ADO square miles. This mission quickly became one of humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing civil war in Iraq. The 3rd Brigade soldiers manning the checkpoints processed more than 115,000 civilian refugees, captured 3,86?lraqi soldiers and treated 700 critical medical cases where the potential for loss of life was great. The medical soldiers at one of the checkpoints even assisted in the delivery of two Iraqi babies. Additionally, the brigade destroyed several hundred tons of Iraqi ammunition before being relieved by the 3rd Armored Division and moving with the rest of the 1st Armored Division to the King Khalid Military City (KKMC) near Hafir al Batin, Saudi Arabia. The 3rd Brigade began its redeployment back to Germany on Apr. 28 with the last unit arriving May 4. 3RD BRIGADE ORGANIZATION The 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division consisted of the following units: 4th Battalion, 7th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry;4th Battalion , 66th Armor; 26th Support Battalion; 2nd Battalion , 41 st Field Artillery The 3rd Brigade was attached to the 1st Armored Division (as the 1st Armored Division's 1st Brigade) for the duration of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. For the ground offensive against Iraq, the brigade was organized into three task forces consisting of the following major combat vehicles: TF 4th Bn" 7th Inf.: 14 M 1A 1s, 47 M2/M3A2 Bradleys TF 1st Bn., 7th Inf.: 14 M1A 1s, 48 M2/M3A2 Bradleys TF 4th Bn., 66th Armor: 46 M1A 1s, 16 M2/M3A2 Bradleys The 26th Spt. Bn. and the 2nd Bn. ,41st Field Artillery provided the brigade with logistical and artillery support throughout the operation . During the ground offensive, the 3rd Brigade had the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, 1st Armored Division, attached to provide reconnaissance capability. DEDICATION This book is dedicated to the memory of Specialist Clarence A. Cash, scout, 4th Battalion, 66th Armor, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, killed in action, Feb.27, 1991, during offensive operations against the Iraqi Medina Republican Guard Division in southern Iraq. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to thank the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry and 1st Armored Divisions whose bravery and dedication to our country made this book possible. SSgt. Chris Mulvey and Spec. Neil Blitstein developed most of the pictures in this book and I cannot thank them enough. My cOrl"lrades in the 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office also provided any assistance I needed and I cannot thank them enough. Special thanks go to Michael Jerchel without whom this book would not have been possible. Finally, I thank my wife and son, Marion and Steven. Without their love and support I probably wouldn't have come back to write this book. EDGAR A. STITT

After arriving in Saudi Arabia, soldiers immediately began training . Here an infantryman from the 4th Bn ., 7th Inf., practices bayonet warfare.

There are two types of bayonet fighters . The quick and the dead . Infantrymen from the 4th Bn. , 7th In!. practice to ensure they are the quick shortly after their arrival in Saudi Arabia.

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Soldiers setting up tents in the surprisingly cold and wet desert weather. Notice one soldier wearing a cold weather parka with hood while the other has full wet weather gear on.

Th ree female soldiers from the 26th Spt. Bn, with the puppy they adopted ,

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Gender did not determine details, A female soldier pulls the ever loved Kitchen Police or KP detail along side her male counterpart,

A soldier, wearing a tanker's nomex suit, does his daily wash,

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A soldier does his laundry. Notice the latrine in the background with camouflage netting thrown over it in an attempt to provide a little privacy.

One of the most loved/most hated soldier was, the unit mail clerk. Sgt. Earl Barkley, 3rd Bde. mail clerk sorts the brigade's mail. Mail delivery occurred only occasionally, but when it did, it seemed everything hit at once.

Specialist Sara Smith, Headquarters Company, 26th Spt. Bn., 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div., opens a Valentine's Day package in Saudi Arabia. The package was a heart full of candy from her husband, an infantry also in the 3rd Bde., serving with the 4th Bn. , 7th Inf.

Two artillery officers from the 2nd Bn. , 41 st Field Artillery manage to use a barbell and some MRE (Meals, Ready to Eat) boxes to keep themselves in shape in the Saudi Arabian desert.

3rd Bde ., 3rd Inf. Div. soldier holds up the East German Communist Party newspaper he found in the cab of the Soviet-made former East German army water truck. This vehicle was provided by the German government from the stocks of vehicles and equipment taken over after Gerrnan unification in October 1990.

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A tanker from 4th Bn ., 66th Armor helps himself to some home-made chilli. The meal was cooked using a Korean made kerosine heater purchased on the Saudi Arabian economy.

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A female soldier, assigned an M60 machine gun and an M16A2 rifle , takes a break to catch up on some reading.

A 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. first sergeant tips in the latitude and longitude of where he wants to go into navigational aid used to navigate in the featureless desert landscape.

An Army cook works on the set-up of a mobile kitchen trailer (MKT). These trailers were used to provide hot meals whenever and wherever possible.

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2nd Lt. Brent York, 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div., discusses the purchase of kerosine heaters with a local Saudi merchant. York speaks fluent Arabic.

A 3rd Bde., infantryman sets the headspace and timing on ar M2 .50 caliber machine gun .

An infantryman loads a TOW missile on a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle prior to the move west to the forward assembly area.

Two soldiers dig a hasty fighting position during the move from the tactical assembly area to the forward assembly area prior to the ground offensive against Iraq.

A convoy of vehicles sets-up for the night during the move of the 3rd Bde. , 3rd Inf. Div., west to its forward assembly area just prior to the ground campaign.

Soldiers using sandbags to reinforce a gun emplacement. The hole was dug by the small emplacement excavator (SEE) of the 54th Engr. Bn . in the background .

Two 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. soldiers fill sandbags for the building of emplacements during the Persian Gulf War.

An artilleryman from the 2nd Bn. , 41 st Field Artillery carries two 155mm artillery shells to his vehicle.

Sergeantfirst class David Sakrison, platoon sergeant, instructs one of his soldiers, Pvt. Ryan Richard, on chemical warfare defense prior to the beginning of the war. Both soldiers are assigned to Co. C, 4th Bn., 7th Inf.

Two tankers from the 4th Bn., 66th Armor, 3rd Bde ., 3rd Inf. Div. loao ~ SABOT antitank round in anticipation of the upcoming ground offensiv~ Shown in the picture are 2nd Lt. Andrew Flagler (left) and Sgt. Cliff Lance .

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The support of the American people was extremely important to the soldiers serving in the Persian Gulf. Here two soldiers from the 26th Spt. Bn . show off a banner they received .

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Soldiers from the 4th Bn., 66th Armor, clean-up after the wind and rain storm demolished and flooded their bivouac area in the forward assembly area just prior to the ground campaign .

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Sergeant Robert Pennywitt, a mechanic with the 4th Bn. , 66th Armor works on a tank engine prior to the beginning of the ground offensive against Iraq.

Soldiers sort out the immense amount of mail received at one time.

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One of the more important logistical items in the desert was water. A soldier gets some water for his tent mates from a water buffalo.

An M9 armored combat earthmover digs a garbage trench . The M9 made its combat debut in Southwest Asia.

Two M9 armored combat earth movers (ACE) in the Saudi desert shortly before the war began. The M9s were used to dig breaches in the berm seperating Saudi Arabia from Iraq in the first phase of the ground war.

Small Emplacement Excavators (SEE) were used to dig fighting positions, garbage pits and latrines. These vehicles belong to the 54th Engineer Battalion,130th Engineer Brigade from Wildflecken, Germany.

Trailer launched mine line clearing charges (MICUC). One shows the MICUC being pulled by an M819 5-ton dump truck. The MICUC fires a rocket, pulling an explosive line charge, over a mine field to clean a path through it.

Mine line clearing charges mounted on an armored vehicle launched bridge chassis. Referred to as the AVLM, these vehicles provided more mobility and survivability than the trailer launched MICUCs.

A "high-top" Hum-Vofthe 26th Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, attached to the 1st Armored Division . This vehicle has not yet been painted sand . Priority for sand paint went to tracked combat vehicles, however, some enterprising drivers managed to get their vehicles painted.

A high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV), 'eferred to as a Hummer or Hum-V. The vehicle has been painted sand and the camouflage netting over the windshield cut down on the sun glare during daytime when moving.

A sand colored Hum-V moving across the desert. The antennas indicate a battalion commander's vehicle.

A Hum-V with a 1/4-ton trailer. Both vehicles are still in the European green paint scheme .

Left side view of a sand colored M113A3 APC . Note the coaliton marking on the side. The vehicle is equipped with the ground laser indicator/ designator.

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line-up of M113A3 armored personnel carriers used by the combat medics of Company C, 26th Support Battalion , 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

Rightfront view of a combat medic M113A3 APC.

One of the more unusual vehicles used by the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division during Operations Desert Shield and Storm were the Soviet-built water trucks received from Germany. The trucks were military trucks and were equipped with hoses and pumps to provide a fresh water capability.

A 5-ton expandable van is set-up by the 26th Spt. Bn. in the Saudi desert. e expandable vans were used by support units and division level units as a ~eadquarter's veh icle .

A HEMMET fuel tanker is refueled by a 1O-ton fuel tanker. The HEMMET fuel tankers have the capability to keep up with the fast moving M1 A 1 tanks and M2IM3A2 Bradleys.

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An M109A3 self-propelled howitzer with its support vehicle during a practice firing in Saudi Arabia before the war.

An M992 field artillery ammunition support vehicle (FAASV) prior to the start of the ground offensive.

A convoy of 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. vehicles moving along a desert road, built by the engineers, prior to the ground offensive.

An M577 travelling across the desert sand during the 3rd Bde. , 3rd Inf. Div.'s rehearsal of movement fo rmations prior to the war.

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An M577 command post carrier, a modification of the M113-series of 'I ehicles. Notice the RPG-screen built by the vehicle's crew for protection against Iraqi RPGs.

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Two M577s sit beside each other as a third prepares to back up. Joint together these vehicles were a battalion command post.

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Th e 3rd Bde ., 3rd Inf. Div.'s command post cons isting of four M577s configured together.

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A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on the ground. The UH-60 was used for logistics transportation and command/control operations.

A UH-1 Huey medical transport helicopter used by a U.S. Army Reserve unit prior to the beginning of the war. The aircraft's crew was giving helicopter patient loading training to the soldiers of Co. C, 26th Spt. Bn.

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An M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle is refueled during a refuel-on-the-move (ROM) exercise prior to the beginning of the war. The ROM was conducted part of a brigade size movement exercise conducted to practice the move from the tactical assembly area near Hafir AI Batin to the forward assembly area :.pproximately 100 miles further west near the Saudi-Iraqi border. ~s

6J1 M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.

The right side of a tank company diamond formation used with great success in travelling over 250KM in 100-hours of combat during the war.

Two M1A1s waiting in the desert.

Full front view of an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank belonging to Lt.Col. Thomas Goedkoop, commander, 4th Bn., 66th Armor, 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div.

A 4th Bn. , 66th Armor, M1 A 1 with a mine plow attached shortly before the begin of the ground campaign.

The crew of an M1A1 Abrams tank drys out their sleeping bags and clothes after one of the frequent rain storms encountered during the brigade's 4.5 month tour in the deserts of Saudi Arabia , Kuwait and southern Iraq.

Line up of M1 A 1s during a range firing shortly before the beginning of the war against Iraq.

A U.S. M1A1 belonging to the 4th Bn., 66th Armor, 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div., crosses the berm seperating Saudi Arabia from Iraq on the first day of the ground campaign.

An M 1A 1 Abrams crosses the berm seperating Saudi Arabia from Iraq. Paths were cut in the berm by the M9 armored combat earthmover shortly before the beginning of the ground campaign.

The commander of the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div., Col. James C. Riley.

'!'edics from the 26th Spt. Bn. receive training on the loading of wounded soldiers on evacuation helicopters from the helicopters crew.

M728 combat engineer vehicle with a mine plow mounted. The M728 mounts a 165mm demolition gun and has an A-frame for lifting purposes.

Rear view of an M113A3 armored personnel carrier equipped with the ground laser indicator/designator (GLlD) .

The German built "Fuchs" (Fox) chemical warfare APC was sent to Saudi Arabia due to the Iraqi threat use chemical weapons against ground troops. The Fox is capable of detecting the use of chemical or biological weapons as well as identifying them .

An M992 towing an M578 light armored recovery vehicle.

Left front view of an M 1A 1 Abrams main battle tank.

A sand colored M113A3 armored personnel carrier being followed by a Hum-V still in the European green paint.

M1A1 turret.

Front view of an M1 A 1 with mine plow .

Two U.S. tankers show off Saddam Hussein books they found in abandoned Iraqi bunkers.

An M1A1 and a Hum-V during a refuel-on-the-move (ROM) while taking a break during the 4-day ground campaign against Iraq.

An Iraqi T-72M hit by a U.S. TOW missile fired by a Bradley infantry fighting veh icle.

Maintenance being pulled on an M1 A 1 Abrams tank during a break in the 4-day ground offensive.

Left side view of a Kuwaiti BMP-2 armed with a 30mm cannon and the AT-6 Spigot antitank missile.

A group of soldiers from Headquarters, 3rd Bde., strike a pose after the end of the conflict.

A 2S1 Soviet built Iraqi 122mm self-propelled artillery piece captured by the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div.

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Right side front view of a 2S1. Note that bumpers markings have already been added by the capturers .

Right front view of the AH-64 showing the 57mm rocket pods and Hellfire missiles.

The multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) was described by Iraqi soldiers who received it as "steel rain".

Iraqi soldiers who surrendered to the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. at one of the checkpoints set-up in southern Iraq after the Persian Gulf War.

A Hum-V, still in European green but with coalition markings, has some quick maintenance during the 4-day ground offensive. Notice the soldiers' chemical warfare clothing and the flak vests.

Another view of the Hum-V.

An Air Force Hum-V assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. This vehicle carried special communications equipment to allow the Air Force liaison team to talk with supporting aircraft.

A battalion command post sets up by parking three M577 command post carriers back to back and lowering the ramps. This allowed the quick setting up and breaking down of the CPs.

Dogfaces deliver in Gulf War: Marne Division 'storms' Iraq

by SSgt. Edgar A. SF­

-------------------~--------------------I think the first phase went well in terms of execution ," said .: When the images in the thermal sights of his M 1A 1 Abrams

Col. Thomas Goedkoop, commander , 4th Bn .. 66th Arm tank grew bright and large , 2nd Lt. Scott Mckechnie knew the enemy vehicle his gunner had targeted had been destroyed during a short pause in the attack. and was on fire. As the third day ended, Riley told his commanders overtr ~ radio, "This is going to be a long night" as the brigade prepare: "It was great, we were all yelling in the turret, saying 'Alright' ," said Mckechnie. to continue the assault, However, on this evening, the war suddenly bec ame ree But with a somber, reflecting glance toward the desert sky, he added. "It wasn 't until today I thought about the people in and very brutal. As the Phantom Bde. prepared to move oc those vehicles," a frantic voice was heard on the radio , "Incoming , incoming, c ease-fire, cease-fire , incoming , rr The 3rd Brigade , 3rd Infantry Division was the lead brigade God, I've got incoming on my TOC ," the voice screamed. for the 1st Armored Division and VII Corps during the 100-hour The 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, attached to the 3rd Bde ground campaign against the Iraqi army. nad been hit by artillery fire. Twenty-seven soldiers w erE The initial thrust , in what was to become a classic flanking maneuver to cut-off Iraqi forces, took the Phantom Brigade wounded in the attack. north to engage a reinfo rced infantry brigade in the Iraqi town A grim seriousness took hold as the 1st and 4th Bns., 7th In' turned east and engaged Iraqi armored personnel carrie -=: of AI Busaiya . and other vehicles . The brigade had finally found their ma'­ As the brigade moved deeper into Iraq , more and more objective: Iraq 's feared Republican Guard. enemy soldiers surrendered with little or no resistance, The sheer volume of prisoners taxed the enemy prisoner-of­ The enemy attempted to fight and block the brigade ~ war (EPW) teams accompanying the brigade. advance, but to no avail. Marne soldiers hit them like Marne Division soldiers assumed the responsibility for caring sledgehammer. The Republic ar for these EPWs whenever necessary. Guard was attempting t keep the Iraqi army' : Command Sgt. Maj , escape routes out o' Juan Chavez and PFC Jim Makin , both of Kuwait into Iraq ope Headquarters and The brigade ' s larges' Headquarter s engagement took place Company, 4th Battalion , on the afternoon of t hE: fourth day, 66th Armor, had their own experiences with The brigade slicec guarding EPWs. through the Guard ane According to reached a road fille e Chavez, the majority of with Iraqi vehiclesflee inG= the EPWs were hungry, hastily north , cold, tired, and only too Engaging the happy to surrender. enemy at ma ximu rr "We gave a group range with deadl of EPWs our hex tent and accuracy, the brigade all 47 of them crawled began destroy i n ~ into it." said Chavez. everything moving or When the 1st Bn., 7th the road. Enemy artillery Infantry attacked one of An M1A1 tank takes a break as an Iraqi vehicle burns in the distance on the second day responded with c of the ground campaign.

their objectives during this

northward thrust, they found the same trend to be true.

Intelligence reports indicated enemy soldiers and armored vehicles were manning defensive positions in and around the objective. Expecting a fight, the Cottonbalers started to move-in . Suddenly,small, then larger groups of Iraqisbegan emerging from the defensive positions with their hands-up and white flags flying. The assault was halted long enough to round the enemy up and move them to the rear. Psychological warfare teams supporting the brigade encouraged the enemy to surrender by playing tapes on loudspeakers urging the Iraqis to g ive-up the fight and live to see their families again. The few Iraqi soldiers who decided to fight were routed by the 1st Bn" 7th Inf. 's attack and either fled north or died trying to flee . Speed , mobility and long range engagements were emphasized by the brigade commander, Col , James Riley, during this initial phase. The brigade had moved approximately 120 miles in three days while encountering only light enemy resistance. "We got this far and there was hardly any enemy resistance.

barrage at positions jus' vacated by the 3rd Bde. Less than one minute after the first enemy round impacted, Lt, Col. Michael Leahy, commander, 2nd Bn" 41 st Field Artillery, reported that the Iraqi artillery positions had been located. A minute later, Marne thunder boomed across the deseri sands as the Redlegs, together with the multiple launch rocke system (MLRS), began firing a deadly counterfire barrage tha ' eventually trapped and destroyed up to six Iraqi artillery battalions, The way thus cleared , the Phantom Bde, continued their awesome blitz. A furious 45 minutes artillery barrage, consistin~ of the entire division's artillery, blasted enemy positions early the next morning, It was followed by an attack by AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. The brigade continued to advance untiIBa.m. that morninl; when the cease-fire ordered by President George Bush brough1 a strange, eerie silence to the battlefield. The scences of war witnessed by Phantom Bde. soldiers wil remain indelibly printed in their minds. "I saw a lot of fireballs, like those in the movies. They reali y happen." said PFC Scottie Schmidt, M1A 1 tank loader, Co. C 4th Bn ., 66th Armor,

Sgt. Tony Frazier, M1A 1 gunner, Co. D, 4th Bn., 66th Armor, oroudly claimed to have destroyed an enemy armored oersonnel carrier at a range of 3,900 meters or almost 2.5 miles. "After the first shot, it was just a matter of doing your job. It .vas either them or us, so it had to be them, " he added fiercely. Most of the engagements between U.S. and Iraqi units ccurred at about 2,500 meters with many exceeding 3,000 meters. The Iraqis could only engage at about 2,000 meters with their best tanks. The battle was serious, deadly and brutal. The enemy was d esperately trying to inflict damage and escape from the noose b eing put around their necks. "Artillery was falling behind us, we could actually see it hit. It was scary ," said 1st Lt. William Hanley, executive officer, Co . D, 4th Bn., 66th Armor. There were some really scary parts, but the adrenaline was p umping the whole time. "We just did our jobs," added PFC Jody Collins, M1A 1 loader, Co . C, 4th Bn., 66th Armor.

During what was later termed the 1OO-hourwar, the Phantom Bde. killed untold numbers of enemy soldiers,destroyed 105 enemy tanks, 70 enemy armored personnel carriers, 64 trucks and four artillery pieces. Over 800 EPWs surrendered to the Marne Division's brigade. Tragically , a price was paid for this victory . A 4th Bn., 66th Armor soldier, Spec. Clarence Cash, was killed in action after an Iraqi rocket propelled grenade struck the Bradleyfighting vehicle he was driving. Three other Marne Division soldiers were wounded in the same action. The Phantom Bde. engaged at least three different Iraqi army and two Republican Guard divisions during their march through Iraq. After six weeks of war, SSgt. Luis Sanchez, NBC NCO, Co. C, 4th Bn" 66th Armor, knew what he wanted. ''I'm glad this is over:- Now I can go home and tell stories to my grandchildren," he said with a weary smile.

An Iraqi BMP-1 burns after being hit by a TOW antitank missile on the second day of the ground offensive against Iraq.

An M1A 1 of the 4th Bn., 66th Armor, 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. passes the burning wreckage of an Iraqi BMP-1 armored personnel carrier during the second day of the ground campaign .

u.s. soldiers from the 3rd Bde. , 3rd Inf. Div. inspect an abandoned Iraqi BMP-1

APC stili in its revetment.

A U.S. made 2.5-ton truck, belonging to the Iraqi army, destroyed in its emplacement. The Iraqis would dig their vehicles in away from where they lived in order to avoid the constant U.S. air attacks.

The remains of an Iraqi vehicle destroyed by U.S. and coalition forces air attacks.

An Iraqi artillery command vehicle hit by a 3rd 8de . tank round. Notice the entrance hole on the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle's turret was blown off by the explosion and lays on the ground next to the vehicle.

An Iraqi barracks destroyed by U.S. air attacks and ground action. The area occupied by the 3rd Eilde., 3rd Inf. Div. after the war in southern Iraq was a large munitions area.

An abandoned Iraqi bunker. The devastating power of U.S. air attacks caused the Iraqi soldiers to park their vehicles in one area and live in another approximately 300-500 meters away.

The remains of an Iraqi barracks after the 3rd Bde. , 3rd Inf. Div. attacked through it.

A destroyed Iraqi combat engineer vehicle lies in the emplacement where it was destroyed by 3rd Bde. tank fire.

Most Iraqis preferred surrendering

by SSgt. Edgar A. Stitt

-----------------------------------------Driving his M 113A3 armored personnel carrier over the rough and unchanging desert terrain. Col. Carlos Hernandez kept a sharp eye peeled for any sign of enemy activity in Iraq. Suddenly, not more than 20 meters away, an Iraqi soldier, armed with a Soviet-made sniper rifle popped-up into view and surprised the Company B, 4th Battalion, 7th Infantry, driver. "Enemy to the front," the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division soldier shouted excitedly. On top of the vehicle 1st Lt. Floyd Carlson, executive officer, Co. B, 4th Bn., 7th Inf., peered at the enemy soldier. For a few tense moments, these two armed men, at war with each other, stared one another down. "I think he saw the .50 caliber machine gun and realized he'd lose. He dropped his weapon," said Carlson. Carlson ordered Hernandez and Col. Jason Hauck, NBC NCO, Co. B, 4th Bn., 7th Inf., out to take the Iraqis prisoner. ''I'll never forget their faces, They had the fear of God in them," said Hauck. "It was kinda wierd, the look on their faces. Their chain of command had told them we'd kill them," added Carlson. As Hernandez and Hauck began searching the enemy soldiers, a couple more Iraqis appeared, dropped their weapons and surrendered, "It was a tense moment. I think I was more scared than they were ," said Hauck, The Iraqi soldiers fear of being executed disappeared when they realized these Marne Division soldiers would treat

them according to international law, "About five minutes into the search they relaxed and even tried to help us search them," said Hauck, Many other enemy prisoners of war (EPW) were taken by the Phantom Brigade, Sergeant Maj. James Wertman, battalion sergeant major, 4th Bn" 7th Inf" related an incident really surprised some Cottonbalers, According to him a group of soldiers were approaching an Iraqi position occupied by an enemy platoon, As they carefully moved closer, an Iraqi walked up to them, holding a white flag, and said with a Chicago twang in his voice, "Where have you all been, I've got these guys ready to roll." Wertman went on to say the EPW turned out to be an American resident alien who had been living in the Chicago area until he decided to pay his family in Iraq a visit, "Saddam grabbed him, put him in the army and stuck him in a lonely hole in the desert," said Wertman. "He'd talked his whole platoon into surrendering," he added, But, an Iraqi officer told Wertman, it wasn't really the U,S. Army the Iraqi soldiers feared most, "A lot of them were more scared of the Republican Guard (an elite Iraqi unit intensely loyal to Hussein) than of us. They would have shot the Iraqis if they saw them moving south," Wertman concluded .

Iraqi prisoners strike a pose while waiting for transportation that will eventually bring them to Saudi Arabia.

Captured Iraqis in a POW compound in southern Iraq . The two 'soldiers' in the middle claimed to be 18 years old.

Iraqi POWs are transported on a captured Iraqi truck.

American soldiers inspect the remains of an abandoned Iraqi T-72M main battle tank. Although the T-72 is faster than the M1 A1 and has a larger caliber main gun, ittumed out not to be a match. M1A1s from the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. engaged T-72s outto ranges of 3,900 meters with the average being about 2,500 meters. The maximum effective range of the T-72 was about 2,000 meters resulting in a very uneven mismatch on the wide open desert plai[ls.

An abandoned T-72M Iraqi main battle tank belonging to the Medina Republican Guard Division. Note the vehicle's crew left in such haste they didn't even remove the main gun cover.

An Iraqi Republican Guard truck destroyed during the ground campaign .

Another Iraqi T-72M abandoned by its crew. Notice the fleeing Iraqi tankers didn't even bother to take the muzzle cover off the main gun.

An Iraqi Republican Guard Division 2S1122mm self-prope =­ gun lies on a roadway after being hit by an M 1A 1 tank main ~> round.

Turret detail of the T-69 Chinese built Iraqi tank.

Two Kuwaiti BMP-2 armored personnel carriers on a road in Kuwait.

An Iraqi medical truck and an Iraqi cargo truck on a roadway in northern Kuwait just before the border with Iraq.

An Iraqi ZSU-23-4 destroyed by 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. tank fire as it attempted to flee Kuwait into Iraq.

Soldiers from the 26th Spt. Bn., 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. knew exactly where they were in the Kuwaiti desert.

Chaplain Mike Lembke, 4th Bn., 7th Inf., conducts church services for soldiers during the Persian Gulf War.

Corporal Arturo Jurado, Co. A, 4th Bn., 66th Armor tank gunner, sits beside his "scoreboard". Jurado hit an Iraqi T-55 tank at a range of 3,510 meters. After his return to Germany Jurado was promoted to Sergeant.

A U.S. soldier from the 4th Bn., 66th Armor, Cmd. Sg!. Major Juan Chavez, searches through Iraqi gear for possible boobytraps.

The author takes a quick break to clean his fingernails during the ground offensive of the Persian Gulf War.

Staff Sg!. Claude Christian of the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div., stands beside a road sign in southern Iraq. Vilseck and A-burg (Aschaffenberg) , Germany were two of the German cities soldiers of the VII Corps deployed from . The patch is the shoulder insignia of the 3rd Inf. Div.

Major Gen. Wilson A. Shoffner, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, visits a 4th Bn., 66th Armor soldier who had been wounded during the Persian Gulf War.

Division reveres fallen hero

-----------------------------------------Spec. Clarence Allen Cash, Bradley driver, 4th Battalion, 66th Armor, was the only Marneman who died while seNing his country in support of Operation Desert Storm. He was killed in action February 27, one day before the ground war ended, while supporting offensive operations against the Republican Guard's Medina Division in Southern Iraq. While entering a complex bunker system during the final phase of the Southern Iraq offensive , Cash's platoon encountered intense small arms and anti-armor fire from an ammunition storage area, The platoon's lead vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade and the platoon was in danger of being destroyed. Without hesitation, Cash drove his vehicle into the direct line of fire to safeguard the escaping crew and to provide a superior position from which his vehicle could engage the enemy. He maintained his position while under fire until all personnel had been recovered and the platoon was in position

by PFC Pamela Barnett

to engage the enemy. While in the direct line of fire, Cash 's vehicle was hit by two rocket propelled grenades and destroyed. Cash's sacrifice enabled the successful evacuation of the other members of his platoon without any further loss of life . Cash was born April4, 1970 in Ashland, Ohio. He'graduateo from Mansfield High School, Mansfield, Ohio. Cash entered the Army June 16,1988 at Ford Knox, Ky. ,where he completed basic and advanced individual training. Cash came to Germany and joined HHC, 3rd Bn .. 66th Armor, October 20,1988. He married Sandra Kay Deaton June 24, 1989. Cash deployed to the Gulf in December with 3rd Brigade. His awards include the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal. Good Conduct Medal. National Defense SeNice Medal. Army SeNice Ribbon, and Southwest Asia Medal. Cash is sUNived by his wife Sandra, his mother May Lambert and his father Clarence Cash.

Medical vehicles from the 4th Bn., 66th Armor set-up to receive the only casualties suffered by the 3rd Bde ., 3rd Inf. Div. during the war. Specialist Clarance

A. Cash, scout, was killed in action on Feb . 27 when an Iraqi rocket propelled grenade (RPG) destroyed the Bradley he was driving . Three other soldiers were wounded.

A memorial service was held March 2 in honor of Specialist Clarence Cash, the only 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. soldier killed in action during the Persian Gulf

War.

Command Sgt. Maj. Juan Chavez, 4th Bn., 66th Armor and PFC Michael Crawford, Headquarters, 3rd Bde., give a thumbs-up 10 the overwhelming defeat of the Iraqi army while holding a captured Iraqi flag .

Left side view of a Bradley with Apache helicopters flying over shortly after the end of the war.

Immediately after the 0800 hours (Saudi time) , American combat vehicles from the 4th Bn. , 66th Armor, 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div., took up defensive positions and raised American national and state flags to celebrate the defeat of the Iraqi army and the end of the war.

Right side view of an AH -64 Apache attack helicopter shortly after the Feb. 28 cease-fire .

Right side view of an OH-58D Kiowa observation helicopter.

Right rear view of the 2S1 .

A Soviet built Iraqi artillery command and control vehicle captured by the 26th Spt. Bn . during the war.

Iraqi BMP-1 armored personnel carrier captured by the Headquarters, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div.

A line up of captured Iraqi equipment. From left a 57mm antiaircraft gun, 2 T-72M main battle tanks and an SU-23-4 antiaircraft gun .

A Soviet made Iraqi BM-24 rocket launcher hit by U.S. artillery fire. This vehicle was found by 3rd Bde ., 3rd Inf. Div. soldiers on the demarcation line between U.S. occupied southern Iraq and Iraq .

An Iraqi MTLB, still in running condition, is driven by a U.S. soldier. On top of the MTLB is a 23mm antiaircraft gun .

The Chaparral antiaircraft missile system didn't see any action in the war because the Iraqi air force chose to hide or flee into Iran.

Right after the 0800 hours (Saudi time) cease fire , 3rd Bde ., 3rd Inf. Div. soldiers take time to get out of the hot chemical warfare gear and wash up a little bit.

Right after the Feb. 28 cease-fire, a soldier gets out of his chemical warfare gear and washes himself for the first time since the beginning of the ground campaign. Notice the M577 in the background with the chicken wire shield to protect against rocket propelled grenades . .,. ...

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The commander of the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div., Col. James C. Riley, stands with his battalion commanders and brigade staff shortly after the cease-fire while the brigade was still in Kuwait.

Immediately afterthe Feb. 28 cease-fire, the commanders and staff of the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. went over lessons learned during the four day ground campaign.

Specialist Teresa Garrison, a combat medic from Co. B, 26th Spt. Bn. , takes some time to read after the cease-fire.

Maintenance was one of the reasons the 3rd Bde. , 3rd Inf. Div. lost no major combat systems to breakdown during the four day ground campaign . Here mechanics work on the track of an M1 A 1 tank.

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The crew of an M 109A3 self-propelled howitzer and artillery support vehicle take a break in the Kuwaiti desert.

The American Secretary of the Army, Michael P.w. Stone, talks with soldiers from the 1st Platoon, Co. C, 1st Bn., 7th Inf. during a visit just after the end of the war. :

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Iraqi soldiers in a temporary prisoner compound in southern Iraq about 40 kilometers west of Basra.

A male soldier plays cards with two female soldiers shortly after the cease fire. The soldiers are from the 26th Spt. Bn.

An Iraqi truck drives past a medic M113A3 armored personnel carrier at Checkpoint Bravo in southern Iraq . The 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. sets up a medical point at this checkpoint to assist Iraqis fleeing the war between Iraqi loyalists and Shiite Muslims immediately after the cease-fire.

A 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. soldier searches an Iraqi car at one of the checkpoints set up by the brigade to ensure security in the U.S . occupied southern Iraq.

A U.S. soldier guards an Iraqi family at one of the checkpoints in southern Iraq while military police search their vehicle. The soldier is armed with the squad automatic weapon (SAW).

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Marne soldiers assist Iraqi refugees

by SSgt. Edgar A. Stitt

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"It' s interesting , and keeps the soldiers busy, A lot of them A Soviet built, sand-colored truck flying a white flag approaches the desert checkpoint on a road in southern Iraq. even like pulling it," said Patrick with a chuckle, Manning the checkpoint are Marne Division soldiers from At the same time the Cottonbalers of 1st Bn" 7th InL are the 3rd Brigade 's Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry. doing their best to alleviate some of the suffering and human "We've got a military truck coming" yells a Phantom Bde. misery they are witnessing, "We have a food point to feed people who are hungry, We soldier excitedly as he hefts his loaded M 16A2 rifle to the ready . The truck nears the checkpoint and is halted. Four Arabs , even put a homeless family up in one of our tents for a few dressed in civilian clothes, are ordered out of the vehicle. They days," said Patrick, seem nervous and confused. On the main highway leading from Kuwait into Iraq is Covered by his fellow Marnemen, one infantryman Checkpoint Bravo manned by soldiers from Co, C , 1st Bn " 7th approaches the Arabs and motions them to put their hands up, Inf, They comply immediately, Spec, Michael Lattin, a Co, C infantryman, explained his After a few tense moments, it turns out the truck is a Soviet unifwas doing a show of force and helping the MPs keep the made civilian vehicle with civilian license plates, The four Iraqis checkpoint organized, are civilians fleeing the fighting between Shiite Muslims and the "We also keep an eye on the desert around the checkpoint, Iraqi army farther north , When we first got here, we had some people try to bypass the After a thorough search of their vehicle the four Iraqis are checkpoint and we had to chase them down," said Lattin , allowed to continue on their way after being given food and Lattin explained females and children were not searched water. and were told to stay S u c h in their vehicles, If occurrences break medical assistance the boredom of was required , a checkpoint duty as medical point, Marne Division operated by Co, C , soldiers ensure the 26th Support safety and well-being Battalion , was of Iraqi and Kuwaiti located just off the civilians while highway near the securing roads in checkpoint. southern Iraq. According to "We're stopping SSgt, Derreck Wilson, all soldiers, civilians medicaINCO,Co ,C, and vehicles and 26th Spt, Bn" the searching them for medical point is a weapons and combined effort ammunition, We're between his also keeping the company and the refugees from using 577th Treatment certain routes," said Team, SSgt, Michael Patrick, "We're giving squad leader, Co, B, humanitarian assistance to all Iraqi 1st Bn " 7th Inf, civilians and EPWs," Patrick said most of the soldiers and said Wilson, civilians are fleeing Wilson explained the fighting between A medic from the 26th Spt . Bn , treats an Iraqi baby as the child's mother looks on. The baby was the medical point Saddam Hussein ' s malnourished and dehydrated and was immediately flown by helicopter to an evacuation hospital. had not even finished Republican Guard setting-up before the and Shiite Muslim rebels in and around Basra, Iraq, refugees started coming-in looking for medical assistance, "Soldiers surrendering or caught at the checkpoint are put "We've had two births by Iraqi females , treated gunshot into enemy prisoner-of-war (EPW) cages until the military police wounds, lacerations, burns and everything else you can think pick them up," said Patrick, of, We've seen it aiL " said Wilson with a sad , tired smile. According to him , his soldiers are being kept busy by the The Phantom Bde, soldiers manning the various checkpOints steady flow of refugees, Thousands of vehicles and EPWs as in southern Iraq are learning firsthand how much the refugees well as tens of thousands of refugees were processed at the appreciate their efforts, checkpOints, "The people are real friendly," said Lattin, "And they're "It's been a little hectic, A lot of people coming through," cussing-out (Iraqi leader) Saddam Hussein all the time," said Patrick, Each soldier has his own story of tragedy, One Marneman said he saw a little six or seven year old girl with curly brown hair, an angel's face, and a bullet hole in her shoulder, "I feel sorry for the Iraqis, A lot of kids coming by are hungry and they look at you, It makes you feel bad ," said Patrick, But duty at the checkpoint does provide a break from the tedious boredom of waiting in the desert as well as some valuable training,

Two Iraqi boys look at a 3rd Bde ., 3rd Inf. Div . soldier on guard at Checkpoint Alpha in southern Iraq. Like children everywhere. they were very curious about the foreign soldie rs.

Disarmed Iraqi soldiers surrendering at a checkpoint in southern I raq. The checkpoints were manned by soldiers of the 3rd Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. along with military police and military intelligence translators.

A medic from the 26th Spt. Bn . treats an Iraqi man for a foot wound at Checkpoint Bravo. Checkpoint Bravo was located on the main highway 1 leading from Kuwait towards the Iraqi cities of Basra and Baghdad.

An Arab civilian helps an American soldier searches his vehicle at Checkpoint Alpha in southern Iraq.

It's finally over. 3rd Inf. Div. soldiers from the 703rd Spt. Bn. and the 3rd Sqd., 4th Cava lry, unloading 3rd Bde . vehicles at the German port city of Bremerhaven . The vehicles were returning to Germany from Saudi Arabia.

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A 4th Bn., 7th Inf. Maa heavy recovery vehicle at a vehicle collection point just over the Saudi-Iraqi border. When the 3rd Bde . pulled out of southern Iraq they had to ensure they brought all their vehicles with them . This collection point just inside Saudi Arabia was responsible for locating and transporting broken down vehicles out of Iraq .

Burning oil wells in northern Kuwait and a destroyed Kuwaiti factory.

A burning oil well at night makes for a dramatic scene in northern Kuwait.

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