Battle of 73 Easting (Defense) by U.S. Government

During the war with Iraq, I had the privilege of commanding the fine soldiers of Eagle Troop, Second Squadron, Second Armored Cavalry Regiment. Before engaging in combat, I often wondered what an armored battle would be like so I could better prepare our troopers. There is not much written, however, about pitched armored combat at the small unit level. I drafted this account immediately after the temporary cease-fire in hope that I could relate the Troop's experience to the American people whose support we felt in a very direct manner. After the war, I had the opportunity to return to the battlefield, discuss the battle with other Eagle Troopers, and examine the Troop log. As a result, I made several corrections and additions to the original text. The following recounts the Troop's experience during the war and focuses on a portion of the battle which raged along the Second Squadron, Second Armored Cavalry Regiment front during the afternoon and evening of February 26th, 1991. This account is meant to give the reader an appreciation for the battles fought across the theater and is not aimed at promoting one unit's action at the expense of others. Many similar formations fought as hard and had like experiences.