10                                U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-1991


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                                           Photograph taken by author, December 1990
Assault Anzphibian vehicles showing syttein of unit markings for 3d Platoon, Company
A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Task Force Rit'per.

!nfantry Battalion and the tst Light Armored Infantry Battalion. At first, he
discontinued the use of battalion designations. The three companies from the 1st
Light Armored Infantry Battalion and the one company from the 3d Light
Armored Infantry Battalion made up the Light Armored Infantry Battalion.
Lieutenant Colonel Myers soon found the title to be neither inspiring nor
accurate. He then dropped the battalion designation and replaced it with the
more appropriate designation "task force" and a name every Marine could
recognize. He chose "Task Force Shepherd" after former Commandant of the
Marine Corps General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. The 7th Marines soon followed
suit with "Task Force Ripper".
    Gradually the practice extended throughout the division as its advantages
became obvious. The task force concept allowed changes of organization and
mission without a concomitant loss of unit identity. For example, Task Force
Grizzly's command  element was Headquarters,   4th Marines. However, its
maneuver battalions consisted of the 2d and 3d Battalions, 7th Marines, and,
temporarily, the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines.
    General Myatt believed the task force concept made it easier to keep the
Marines properly ft~cused. He wanted the task force commanders to be primarily
concerned that they had the means to accomplish their mission rather than worry
about unit integrity. Similarly, adherence to the designator "task force" enabled
Myatt to move units from one task force to another, yet still get individual