Posted at 7:18 a.m., Thursday, March 20, 2003
Army launches artillery attack on Iraqi troops
Associated Press
IN THE KUWAITI DESERT — The U.S. 3rd Infantry Division's artillery opened fire Thursday on Iraqi troops, using Paladin self-propelled howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems in the first stage of the ground war.Maj. Gen. Bufourd Blount, the division commander, had said the artillery barrage would signal the first phase of the ground war against Iraq.
White light glowed in the sky above the cannons as dozens of artillery shells were fired. Explosions inside Iraq could be heard.
Infantrymen who were between the howitzers and the Iraqi border cheered as the shells screamed overhead.
