Pardon me for opening with a commercial, but my first book, “The Gulf War Chronicles” is being re-released this week. My book sales are my only means of income. I would appreciate it if you would help support my writing by passing this on to as many people as you can and if you would truck on down to your local bookstore and ask them if they will carry the book on their shelves. Here is the Amazon.com listing.
A comprehensive and compelling account of the Gulf War. Lowry’s operational history is valuable for military historians and professionals; it is also accessible to general readers. Understanding the current war in Iraq requires an understanding of the 1991 Gulf War. Richard Lowry’s “The Gulf War Chronicles” is a great place to start.
– Colonel H.R. McMaster, USA.
Thanks for your patience. Now, for the rest of the story.
In 1991, VII Corps was moving its thirteen hundred Abrams and Challenger tanks into attack position. The Big Red One faced the Iraqi’s westernmost fortifications. The British 1st Armoured Division was positioned directly behind the U.S. 1st Infantry Division. On the left flank of the 1st Infantry, the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment was preparing to race into Iraq. Its mission was to find the Republican Guard. The U. S. 1st and 3d Armored Divisions would follow the 2d ACR and smash Iraq’s best units.
By the time the 1st and 3d Armored Divisions were engaged with the Republican Guard, the 1st Cavalry Division would be in place to act as a reserve. Lieutenant General Fred Franks wanted to strike the Republican Guard with a single heavy metal fist. He worked diligently to maneuver his divisions into position so that they could all attack simultaneously. As VII Corps rolled into Iraq, Franks ordered that only scouts could advance ahead of the juggernaut.
Colonel Don Holder charged forward with his entire Dragoon Battle Group. One hundred twenty M1A1 tanks and more than a hundred and fifty Bradley Armored Fighting Vehicles of the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (2d ACR) rumbled east toward the Republican Guard and northern Kuwait.
When Colonel Holder was asked about General Franks’ orders to advance cautiously, he replied, “We’re all scouts.”
Following is an excerpt from The Gulf War Chronicles, detailing Captain H.R. McMaster’s participation in one of the largest armored battles of all time:
With one hundred forty soldiers in nine M1A1 tanks, twelve Bradley Fighting
Vehicles, two 4.2″ mortar carriers, and other armored support vehicles, Captain
H.R. McMaster’s Eagle Troop headed east searching for the enemy. At 1525
Eagle Troop was ordered to advance toward the 70th Easting and find the
Republican Guard.
As the troopers approached the 60th Easting, the concentration of Iraqi forces
began to increase. By 1530, Eagle Troop had come under fire from Iraqis occupying a group of buildings at the 69th Easting. The troopers returned fire and kept moving forward. Artillery rounds began falling on Eagle Troop. They continued to “hit the leather and ride” forward.
At 1556, Eagle Troop approached an Iraqi bunker that lie directly in its path of advance. As the cavalry troopers closed in, the defenders dropped their weapons, came out, and surrendered. The troopers ignored the surrendering Iraqis and continued to grind forward. At 1607, Eagle Troop encountered dug-in T-72 tanks. McMaster had found the Republican Guard. The Troop’s tank platoons moved forward and attacked through a minefield. At 1618 McMaster’s gunner fired on and destroyed a T-72 tank. By 1622 Eagle Troop tankers had destroyed eight more Iraqi T-72s. The Troopers continued to plow forward. By 1636, they had destroyed many Iraqi tanks and were attacking into the bulk of the Iraqi defenses. McMaster had advanced far beyond the 70th Easting.
His orders had been to stop the Troop’s forward progress at that point. This was no time to stop the attack and become sitting ducks for the Iraqi gunners! McMaster told First Lieutenant John Gifford (who was in radio contact from the command post), “I can’t stop. We’re still in contact. Tell them I’m sorry.” Eagle Troop pushed forward, destroying more tanks ahead. At 1640 McMaster’s Troop finally reached a point that was just out of range of seventeen T-72 tanks coiled on the edge of the next defensive perimeter. Eagle Troop stopped its advance. They had arrived at the 73rd Easting.
Captain H.R. McMaster led the charge into the Republican Guard. His engagement was one of the first in the battle of the 73rd Easting. Within hours, the 1st Infantry Division would pass through the Cavalrymen and engulf the Tawakalna Republican Guard Division. Old Ironside would attack the Republican Guard head on and the 3rd Armored Division would engulf the enemy in the north. You can read the entire story of the battle of the 73rd Easting in “The Gulf War Chronicles.“
I was told, by people who were at CENTCOM HQ at the time, that GEN Schwarztkopf was very displeased by LTG Franks slowness in attacking.
He was more than displeased. That story is also in “The Gulf War Chronicles.
Well yeah, but E-6′s aren’t supposed to mention 4-star’s ranting & raving…
Looks like a real must read.
I had the honor of serving under McMaster in the first Gulf War. After that battle, it was apparent to me that I was following one of the great leaders of our time. I was the gunner on Eagle 44 with SGT Henry Foy as my tank commander. As I remember, part of our mission was to breach a huge birm to enter into enemy territory. I had orders fire two H.E.A.T. rounds into buildings that intelligence told us were occupied by Iraqi forces. There was activity, but nothing that deterred us from our course. By the end of the battle of the 73rd Easting, I had destroyed 5 tanks, 2 APC’s and 1 truck. It all seemed to have happened so fast. And if McMaster had not taken the actions he did, I, and many other soldiers might have met a much different fate.
I was there…One hell of a time!
THUNDER SIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!