After maintaining radio silence throughout the covering operation, Regimental nets opened at 1310 hours. This was the start of operations, the first wartime or combat operation conducted by the Regiment since May 1945. At 1330 the 210th FA Brigade fired a nine-minute artillery prep with two 155 battalions, an MLRS battery and the Regiment’ s howitzer batteries.
The prep covered the breaching of a double berm between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. This berm, erected to discourage smugglers, stood 8-10 feet high. 82nd Engineer Battalion, OPCON to the Dragoons and reinforced by the Regiment’ s own 84th Engineer Company, cut 43 lanes through the berm to allow passage of the follow-on squadrons and the Corps main body of two divisions.
While the Engineers completed these lanes, the Regiment crossed the berm line, called PL BECKS, with 4/2 leading in an aerial screen, followed by two squadrons abreast, Second in the west and Third in the east. First Squadron followed 3/2 as the Regimental reserve and RSS followed 2/2. Fourth Squadron cleared the zone with Nomad and Palehorse Troops as far as PL BUD by 1350 hrs. Eagle Troop breached the berm by 1400 hrs and Lightning Troop by 1406 hrs. Ground squadrons were on PL BUD, the limit of advance for the day, by 1530 hrs with Fourth Squadron screening ten kilometers further north on PL BUSCH. No one reported contact.