https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-12-mn-2959-story.htmlUsing plows mounted on tanks and combat earthmovers, the U.S. Army division that broke through Saddam Hussein’s defensive front line buried thousands of Iraqi soldiers–some still alive and firing their weapons–in more than 70 miles of trenches, according to U.S. Army officials.
In the first two days of ground fighting in Operation Desert Storm, three brigades of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Division–”The Big Red One”–used the tactic to destroy trenches and bunkers being defended by more than 8,000 Iraqi soldiers, according to division estimates.
While 2,000 surrendered, Iraqi dead and wounded as well as defiant soldiers still firing their weapons were buried beneath tons of sand, according to participants in the carefully planned and rehearsed assault.
“Once we went through there, other than the ones who surrendered, there wasn’t anybody left,” said Capt. Bennie Williams, who was awarded the Silver Star for his role in the assault.
“This is war. This isn’t a pickup basketball game,” the official said.
Not a single American was killed during the attack on Feb. 24-25 near the tip of the diamond-shaped neutral zone that straddles the border between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. No Iraqi body count was possible after the assault.
“For all I know, we could have killed thousands,” said Col. Anthony Moreno, commander of the 2nd Brigade, which led the assault on the heaviest defenses. A thinner line of trenches on Moreno’s left flank was attacked by the 1st Brigade, commanded by Col. Lon Maggart. Maggart estimated that his force buried about 650 Iraqi soldiers.
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