The Road to Safwan: The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in the 1991 ...

140 The Road to Safwan
cloud ceiling made it too dangerous and CPT Philbrick pulled
them back in. That meant that the ground scouts would be unable
to locate anything until they were almost on top of it. The
weather, however, did not stop COL Mowery from flying out to
the squadron to confer with Wilson. Mowery had a difficult
task in finding the squadron’s command group and had to be
vectored in by MAJ Burdan. Although they could hear him flying
through the area the low ceiling prevented them from seeing
him until he dropped to within 100 feet of the ground. Once
he landed, the brigade commander told Wilson and Burdan
that he had directed Philbrick to get the aircraft flying despite
the weather. He felt it was essential that the aircraft be available
to support the recon effort. 14
The Quarter Horse arrived in the 2nd Armored Cavalry’s 15
rear area by 1000 hours and immediately began to refuel and
prepare for whatever mission the division would demand. 16
The 2nd Cavalry had located the Tawakalna Division and was
attacking it in what would be called the Battle of 73 Easting.
Early in the afternoon, LTG Franks ordered the Big Red One to
pass through the engaged cavalry regiment and attack the
Iraqis defending on Objective Norfolk. His staff directed the
2nd Cavalry to select coordination points on the 62 Easting. 17
Given these points, one for each of the two 1st Division
brigades, leaders from the squadron, the division and the 2nd
Armored Cavalry would work through the innumerable details
of the operation and Rhame ordered Wilson to supervise the coordination.
18 At 1530 hours MAJ Burdan traveled to the 2nd
Cavalry’s command post to confer with the deputy regimental
commander and began working out the details of the passage
of lines. 19
Not since World War II had a United States Army armored
or mechanized division conducted a passage of lines in combat.
Yet, in the space of only two days, the Big Red One had the
opportunity to do it for the second time. The first time it was
the stationary unit passing the 1st (UK) Armoured Division to
the east. Now it was the passing unit in an operation that required
the utmost unit and personal discipline. Twelve battalions
of armor, mechanized infantry, and supporting artillery
(1st Infantry Division) approached three armored cavalry