WrTH TNE 1ST MARINE DWISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM 9 Headquarters, 7th Marines Headquarters and Service Company, 7th Marines 1st Battalion, 7th Marines 2d Battalion, 7th Marines 1st Battalion, 5th Marines 3d Battalion, 9th Marines 3d Tank Battalion 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion 1st Combat Engineer Battalion 3d Battalion, ith Marines Company D, 3d Light Armored Infantry Battalion Still in California were the Headquarters, 5th Marines, and three of its battalions: 2d Battalion, 5th Marines; 3d Battalion, 5th Marines; and 2d Battalion, 9th Marines. Three battalions (3d Battalion, 1st Marines; 1st Battalion, 4th Marines; 1st Battalion, 9th Marines) belonged to the 1st Marines but had Western Pacific commitments and were not available at that time. That was also the situation with 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, which was on unit deployment to Okinawa and would join the division later. Ultimately, all but the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, deployed to the Kuwait Theater of Operations (KTO). As the 1st Marine Division commenced its deployment, General Myatt and his staff developed Division Op Order 2-90 and published it on 31 August. The mission given the division required it to deploy to the "CentCom AOR'1 (Central Command area) and establish command and control capabilities, assume operational control over available Marine ground forces, and deploy additional ft~rces from the United States. The division continued the basic mission assigned to 7th MEB, protecting an area encompassing Jubayl, Aymah, Ras Tannurah, and Bahrain. General Boomer wanted the division capable of employment as soon as possible to "attrit and delay' an advancing enemy. Other tasks included conducting close air support and interdiction operations, and planning counteroffensive operations to restore the integrity of the Saudi Arabian border. The 1st Marine Division underwent several reorganizations during its deployment to Saudi Arabia. Each reorganization was in response to changing operational plans, the arrival of additional infantry battalions, and increases in the number of tanks, assault amphibious vehicles, and combat engineer equipment. There was a great deal of experimentation within the division as General Myatt and regimental commanders worked to refine the organization for combat. The ultimate aim was the eventual creation of task forces that had the mobility, fire power, and engineer capability to penetrate Iraqi defensive lines and then defeat enemy mechanized and armored forces.21 Lieutenant Colonel Clifford 0. Myers, Commanding Officer, 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion, initiated the designation of task forces during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.22 In August 1990, Lieutenant Colonel Myers faced the immediate commitment of the composite battalion to long-range screening operations. He needed to create a sense of pride and unit identity among the personnel from both the 3d Light ArmoredFirst Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Src Image |