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On February 26, 1991 the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment led the U.S. Army’s Armored VII Corps into one of the largest armored battles the world has ever seen. The battle between VII Corps and the Iraqi Republican guard involved over two thousand armored vehicles, stretched over a 65 kilometer front and lasted more than 36 hours. Colonel Don Holder’s Dragoon Battle Group was the first to encounter the enemy in what has come to be known as THE BATTLE OF THE 73rd EASTING. The following is an excerpt from the newly published book; The Gulf War Chronicles by Richard S. Lowry.

By now, the Iraqi command had received reports from Southern Iraq. They knew that the Americans were sweeping around Kuwait. They had frantically been repositioning units for the last thirty-six hours. The Iraqi mechanized Republican Guard Tawakalna Division had been moved into blocking positions along the 73rd Easting. The armored Republican Guard’s Medina Division was dug in to its rear and on its right flank, to protect the Basrah Highway. The Adnan and Hammurabi Divisions extended the defensive line north to Highway 8 and the Euphrates River. What was left of the Iraqi 12th Armored Division occupied hasty positions to the south of the Tawakalna. The commanders in Basrah hoped that these units could stop the Allied advance long enough for the remaining Kuwaiti occupation force to retreat north through the corridor between the 73rd Easting and Basrah.

Leading VII Corps, 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 73rd Easting and northern Kuwait. General Franks ordered VII Corps to advance cautiously. Only scouts were to close on the Republican Guard positions. Colonel Don Holder charged forward with his entire Dragoon Battle Group. When asked about General Franks’ orders, he replied, "we’re all scouts."

In the early afternoon, the regiment encountered and engaged security elements of the Tawakalna Division. The troopers then encountered dug-in armor and infantry. These forces were screening the Iraqi retreat. The 2d ACR engaged the enemy in the beginning of "The Battle of the 73rd Easting."

SPC Dennis Musselmen sits atop his M-113

As the 2d ACR approached the Iraqi’s prepared positions, a ferocious sandstorm drastically limited visibility. The swirling sand swept across the desert floor clearing at times to reveal objects over a mile in the distance. Then, in the bat of an eye, the troopers would be enveloped so that they could barely see the length of a football field. Ghost Troop advanced east all afternoon, encountering and killing several Iraqi scout vehicles. At 1500, Ghost Troop destroyed three tanks.

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.

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