2() Feb (coi'itinuing) Iraqi troops. A U.S. combined arms team engaged Iraqi infantry, tanks and artillery along the border. One U.S. servicemember was killed, seven wounded. In one day-long engagement 100-kilometers above the border, U.S. artillery and tactical aircraft attacked 300 ve- hicles in revetted positions, destroying 28 tanks and 28 vehicles. Three additional U.S. aircraft have been lost. An Army helo crashed during combat, killing both pilots. A USMC CH-46 helo and an F-16 were non-combat losses. No Iraqi aircraft have flown in ten days. To-date, there have been 55 U.S. fatalities: 17 KIA, 38 Non-Combat Fatali- ties; 25 WIA; 27 MIA (7 Navy, 2 USMC); 2 Missing; 9 POW (2 Navy, 2 USMC). U.S. troop strength is over 527,000 (82,000 + Navy, 94,000 USMC), other coalition forces exceed 205,000. To-date, 219,858 National Guard and Reservists have been called to active duty (17,198 Navy, 28,359 USMC). U.S. has lost 36 aircraft (Z8 fixed wing in combat, 5 fixed wing in non-combat mishaps, 8 helicopters lost in non-combat). Coalition has lost 11 aircraft. 42 Iraqi aircraft and 6 helos have been shot down in air-to- air engagements with no U.S. losses. 137 Iraqi aircraft flown to Iran. 21 Feb Iraq accepts Soviet-brokered eight-point peace proposal. U.S. expresses "serious" reservations. DOD announces that 88,000 sorties have been flown (2,400 today) with air campaign focus on battlefield preparation in the KTO (800+ sorties), destruction of the Republican Guards (100 sorties), interdiction of communication lines, and strikes and restrikes on strategic targets. Naval forces conduct air strikes and combat operations including mine countermeasures and maritime intercepts. USS SPRUANCE (DD- 963) diverts a freighter in the North Red Sea. Marine Attack Squadron-331 AV-8Bs conducted first of 243 sorties off the - flight deck of the USS NASSAU (LHA-4). This is the first time in history that USMC AV-8Bs have conducted combat missions from a Landing Helicopter Assault ship. 256 tons of ordnance on targets. Two Navy aircraft have been lost in non-combat mishaps. A SH-60 helo's engine failed taking off from USS HALYBURTON (FFG-40), made emergency water landing. 3 crewmen rescued, helo lost. CH-46 helo from USS SEAmIE (AOE-3) crashed in the North Red Sea. 3 crew men rescued, another is missing. Firing 50 rounds from off Khafji, USS WISCONSIN destroys command com- plex. RPVs spotted targets and provided coastline reconnaissance. Throughout the border region, a continued increase in engagements, recon- naissance and counter-reconnaissance probes between U.S. forces, in- cluding Marines, and Iraqi troops involving artillery, attack helos, and tactical air strikes. A USMC unit exchanged small arms and stagger missile fire with Iraqi troops. A-36
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