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

Notes 259
or other regions that favor an ambush or attack by the enemy.
While most of the unit has its weapons trained on the far side of
the defile, scouts cross to the other side and look for the enemy.
Once they report it clear, the following units bound forward one at
a time. When done correctly, it takes away the enemy’s chance to
surprise the crossing unit when it is most vulnerable.
7. Vogel, “Hell Night,” 15; Robels, Summary of 1st Infantry Division
Commander’s Reports; VII Corps TAC, Staff Journal, 15 February
1991, entry 28; Phone interview between the author and Wesley B.
Anderson, 1st Infantry Division Engineer, 2 August 1994.
8. 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, Historical Narrative.
9. History of the Fourth United States Cavalry.
10. Pope interview, 5 October 1993.
11. Author discussion with CPT (Chaplain) Lou Parker.
12. VII Corps TAC, Staff Journal 15-16 February 1991; Chronology of
1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, B11; Author’s notes.
13. Vogel, “Hell Night,” 15; Robels, Summary of 1st Infantry Division
Commander’s Reports; VII Corps TAC, Staff Journal, 15 February
1991, entry 28; Phone interview between the author and Wesley B.
Anderson, 1st Infantry Division Engineer, 2 August 1994.
14. Vogel, “Hell Night,” 15.
15. James L. Hillman, “Task Force 1-41 Infantry: Fratricide Experience
in Southwest Asia” (Personal Experience Monograph, U.S. Army
War College, 1993), 8–9; Bills interview. The intent or direction of
the Iraqi reconnaissance effort in the VII Corps sector is still unknown.
The weakened front-line divisions did not have the capability
to conduct any substantial mounted patrolling. The most
likely explanation is that it was directed by the Iraqi VII Corps
commander using his own reconnaissance assets. While the VII
Corps G2’s “100 Hour War” says little about the Iraqi tactical reconnaissance
effort, it is obvious that there was one. The thermal
sight capability of the M1 and M2s allowed the American soldiers
on the border the opportunity to positively identify people and vehicles
on the other side. The volume of reports in the duty logs indicates
that there were numerous patrols between the border and
the front line positions. Tab K, of the “100 Hour War” and the 7th
Engineer Brigade study also identify wrecked BRDMs, and other
recon-type, vehicles near the border.
16. Finding the boundary lines between divisions is an important mission
of most reconnaissance operations. Unit boundary lines restrict
movement and indirect fires of defenders. As such, they are