AAR 1ST MARDIV IN SWA

File: 970725_dec96_decls34_0076.txt
Page: 0076
Total Pages: 130
Subject = AAR  1ST MARDIV IN SWA                                          

Parent Organization = MCCDC       

Unit = WDID        

Folder Title = AFTER ACTION REPORT 1ST MARINE DIVISION IN SOUTHWEST ASIA   WDID SWA 0073                       

Document Number =          1

Box ID = BX600145



                                     UNCLASSIFIED







              The.following narrative4is provided as an herioc event taking
              place during Int4B&ttalion,:12th Marines participation in
              Op@trationmDesert'Stormorione@

                                              inevhich Marines and coalition
                i-(-TThe iattle-.foreth4fji,
              forces@clas@ed with the Iraqi Sth Me      'chanized Division,
              providedoseveral instances ofiuncommon courage by individual
              Marines.,i,@@owhereiwas thisimore evident than in the actions
              oftcorporal Ingraham, a reconnaissance Marine from 3rd Marine
              Regiment.
              f-...,..When the Iraqis dashed across..the border and into
              gbafji, Cpl In@raham And his recon team of Marines suddenly
              found themselves completely surrounded by the enemy and cut
              of;afrom friendly units.      Immediately, the Marines took to
              the buildings of Khafji and began planning an escape and
              evasion plan
                    Realizing that discovery meant almost certain capture
              and possible death, the Marines hunkered down on an upper
              floor of the Hilton Hotel and established radio
              communications.    The only unit the team was abl.e to contact
              was the Ist Battalion, 12th Marines, the artillery battalion
              supporting 3rd Marines.      Cpl Ingraham radioed his position,
              the situation, and the proximity ol the Iraqi troops.          In
              response, the artillerymen offered Cpl Ingraham their
              se-vices, should the need arise.
                   As the battle progressed, Cpl Ingraham did indeed call
              on the artillerymen, as well as Marine attack aircraft, to
              engage the growing number of targets around him.          Sometimes
              barely able to peek over the wall on the top of the hotel,
              sometimes whispering so as not to be heard by the enemy, Cpl
              Ingraham quickly called in an artillery adjustment round even
              though the round would impact precariously close.
                   The artillery shell exploded just as the Iraqi troops
              began a house to house search.       The high explosive round hit
              the APC squarely, splitting it In half, &me killed or wounded
              the twenty troops around.it.      Cpl Ingraham, through his poise
              And professional skill, had bought his team some time.
                    While the 3rd Marines planned a rescue, Cp2 Ingraham
              continued to Identify lucrative targets, some of which were
              unbelievably close.     At one point, the artillery radio
              operator had a hard time understanding Cpl Ingraham because
              his voice was barely above a whisper.       Cpl Ingraham calmly
              explained that Iraqis were in the motel, on the floor below
              him.   Miraculously,' the Iraqs did not venture up the stairs
              to the roof.
                   Then, in the afternoon of 31 Jan, Cpl Ingraham contacted
              1/12 for another fire mission.      His target this time was 17
              Iraqi YW-531 (APC) armored vehicles assembling on the street
              below.   Instantly recognizing the threat this formation posed
              not only to himself but the entire allied force, Cpl Ingraham
              requested the artillery battalion fire for effect.
                    The proof of Cpl Ingraham's skill Came on the first
              volley.   As the artillery shells rained down, all 17 vehicles
              were destroyed, many with secondary explosion& because as
                                          UNCLASSIFIED                       .........