By mid-February, General
Frederick M. Franks, Jr. ordered
U.S. 1st Cavalry Division to conduct a thrust along the Iraq-Kuwait border. This misdirection would allow the coalition forces to perform the famous "Hail Mary" to the West as the Iraqis focused on the
Wadi.
Operation Berm Buster On 15 February, TF 1-32 Armor Scout Platoon, supported by the division's 8th Engineers, breached the defensive berm built by the Iraqis on the frontier. pounding seven pre-established targets. The Iraqis retaliated with sporadic mortar fire.
Operation Knight Strike On the evening of 19 February, the 1st Cavalry followed up the artillery attack with a Reconnaissance in Force by Task Force 1-5 CAV (Black Knights) of the 2nd Black Jack Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. The Task Force consisted two
M1A1 Abrams Tank Companies, two
M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Companies, an
M901 ITV Anti Tank Company, Command and Control elements from the Headquarters of 2nd Brigade, elements of C Battery 4-5 ADA (
Stinger and
Vulcan Anti Aircraft Systems) and in a combat trains location, elements of the forward support battalion (C Co medical evac). One of the first reaction of the Iraqis, besides firing sporadic mortar rounds, was to set oil trenches on fire. On 20 February, 1-5 CAV broke the border berm in two different points, and after evading a minefield they crossed to the west bank of the wadi. Then the troops of the 2nd Brigade maneuvered northwards for six miles. At midday, a scout platoon reported that they were exchanging fire with the enemy. Seven Iraqi soldiers surrendered. As reinforcements were pushing forward, the column was ambushed by Iraqi troops using mortars and
T-12 anti-tank guns hidden on the reverse slope of a low ridge. Intense direct and indirect fire erupted. The Brigade commander, Col. Randolph House, was personally forced to retreat rearwards after his
M113 APC was nearly hit by several shells. Before a skirmish line could be formed, an
M163 Vulcan was destroyed by a 100 mm round. The gunner, Sergeant Jimmy D. Haws, was killed instantly. A
M2A2 Bradley IFV spraying 25 mm fire on Iraqi trenches was also hit; Another Bradley, commanded by Staff Sergeant Christopher Cichon, came forward to evacuate these casualties. Cichon's Bradley was still operational, and after picking up the wounded, its crew managed to withdraw it from the line of fire. Staff Sergeant Cichon was awarded the Silver Star for his exceptional leadership and courage while under enemy fire. Upon hearing of the seriousness of the injuries sustained by A Co, Spc Phillip Adkins volunteered along with Sgt Frank Knox of C Co to take the battalion Surgeon Capt Noel moved forward to reach the wounded. However Spc Adkins Humvee transporting Capt Noel took indirect fire which disabled his humvee to the point he had to pull back south of the berm. The battle raged for about an hour; after pounding the Iraqi positions with heavy artillery and A-10 air strikes, 1-5 fell back to the berm. During the pull-out, an
Abrams tank hit a mine and was heavily damaged. Its crew was uninjured except for some bruises. The Iraqi defenders lost five tanks and 20 artillery pieces. American casualties amounted to three dead and nine wounded. The wisdom of a full-daylight operation was the subject of some criticism, but the Iraqi army remained convinced that the Coalition invasion would take place from the south. ==Notes==