6 U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-1991 ~s)~ -~ 4 4 P~inting by Sgt Charies G. Grow, USMC Marine ai.nWervman begins anoll~er day in Saudi Arabia, Januaiy 1991. At the time of Op Order 003's writing, the main battle area was so close to Jubayl that no faliback positions existed.~Hopkins informed1~the ground force that there would be no withdrawal. There was nowhere to go. The completion of 7th MEB's deployment no sooner ended than it was followed by the almost immediate arrival of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Maritime Prepositioning Squadron 3, and the remaining elements of the 1st Marine Division. They encountered a less frantic atmosphere, and in a short time the 1st Marine Division completed its deployment with the successftil incorporation, called "compositing," of the ground elements of the 1st and 7th MEBs. General Boomer subsequently remarked that fl~e rapid establishment of Marine combat power in Saudi Arabia cost the Iraqis their window of opportunity fi~r a successful invasion of Saudi Arabia.16 With its passing, the initiative shi-fted to the allies. Organizing and Deploying the Division Not since the Vietnam conflict had an entire Marine division deployed overseas. The deployment of the division required organizational changes. In the summer of 1990, the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton was gathered around a nucleus of three infantry regiments totaling 12 battalions. They were supported by one regiment of artillery, one tank battalion, one assault amphibianFirst Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Src Image |