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File: 970107_oct96_decls6_0010.txt
Subject: SUMMARY OF ACTION FOR OPERATION DESERT STORM 24 27 FEB 1991
Unit: VARIOUS MC
Parent Organization: VARIOUS MC
Box ID: BX600054
Folder Title: OPERATION DESERT STORM SUMMARY OF ACTION 24-27 FEB 1991
Document Number: 1
Folder Seq #: 15
UNCLASSIFIED
which it disabled with thermite grenades. At approximately
2100, Tanks occupied its BP and was prepared to protect the
Task Force right flank.
Throughout the day, CEBs moved in trace of Ist Tanks and
once across PL Dianne, moved to occupy a BP (Vic QT 870300).
At 2130, CEB's M6OA3 tanks engaged fleeing Iraqi vehicles with
main guns and automatic weapons, destroying (1) Type 63 APC,
(1) jeep, and (1) cargo truck. In the midst of this
engagement, Lance Corporal James Waldron of "Al' Co, 7th
Engineer Support Battalion was killed in action.
The Task Force Command Elements initially followed in
trace of 1/1, crossing PL Dianne at approximately 1715. PL
Margaret was crossed at 2115 and the CP established (Vic QT
857321) by 2130. The Logistics Trains followed in trace
throughout the day's movement and by 2200, established the LOC
(Vic QT 825237). The RAS was immediately set up to receive
wounded from the engagements at the airport.
The Task Force reported its progress to Division, and at
approximately 2300, Division directed that all movement be
stopped. At approximately 0200, 3/9 was ordered to move back
outside the airport perimeter. LAI had been ordered to seize
the airfield at 0400 and there was concern about "blue-on-
blue" fires. 3/9's move was completed by 0430 and a defense
was established (Vic QT 863352).
By 0800, 27 February, organized resistance had ceased in
TF Papa Bear's zone. The Task Force continued to clear its
zone, encountering numerous pockets of infantry and a T-55 tank
all of which were either neutralized or destroyed. The war
from TF Papa Bear's perspective was over.
During the three day period of active combat operations
against Iraqi forces, Task Force Papa Bear advanced over one
hundred kilometers from its assembly area in Saudi Arabia to
the outskirts of Kuwait International Airport. Highlights of
this rapidly unfolding attack were the assault breach of two
Iraqi obstacle belts on 24 February; the repulse of a major
counterattack at the Al Burqan oilfield on 25 February, which
involved elements of at least three Iraqi brigades; and the
conduct of a forty kilometer mechanized attack on 26 February
which resulted in the isolation and control of Kuwait Inter-
national Airport.
Task Force elements are credited with the destruction of
(102) tanks, (41) APCS, and (62) other vehicles of various
types and descriptions. Over sixteen hundred Iraqi EPWs were
captured by the Task Force, while many others were bypassed or
disarmed and left to follow-on units to process.
Lance Corporal James Waldron of A Company, 7th Engineer
Support Battalion was the only Task Force Marine to be killed
in combat. His death on the evening of 26 February, in the
last major skirmish with Iraqi forces at Kuwait International
Airport, was a tragic loss deeply felt by his Marine comrades.
Fourteen Marines received wounds from direct combat with Iraqi
UNCLASSIFIED
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Document 11 f:/Week-42/BX600054/OPERATION DESERT STORM SUMMARY OF ACTION 24-27 FEB 1991/summary of action for operation desert storm 24 :01029709504114
Control Fields 17
File Room = oct96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-42
Box ID = BX600054
Unit = VARIOUS MC
Parent Organization = VARIOUS MC
Folder Title = OPERATION DESERT STORM SUMMARY OF ACTION 24-27 FEB 1991
Folder Seq # = 15
Subject = SUMMARY OF ACTION FOR OPERATION DESERT STORM 24
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 02-JAN-1997