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     At 1700, 1/1 followed 1st Tanks through the breach, and
moved north to expand the breachhead.  Both B Co 1/1 and TOWs
reported incoming artillery and small arms fire.   TOWS
destroyed (3) tanks and (3) APCs during heavy fighting.  B Co
1/1 called in AH-lWs, engaging and destroying (4) armored
vehicles.   A Co 1/I moved east and~engaged enemy vehicles and
dismounted infantry.   D Co 1/1 was tasked to assist 1st Tan)~s
in EPW handling.   One platoon remained with Tanks and escorted
hundreds of EPWs back to the Task Force EPW collection point on
the north side of the obstacle belt.

     After the assault elements had moved through the lanes
created by 3/9, Engineers moved forward and attempted to clear
two additional lanes.   One of these lanes turned sour when a
mine plow rake attached to an M60A3 was damaged beyond repair.
Because of these difficulties, only three of the four planned
lanes were ever completed.

     The Task Force "A" Command followed 1st Tanks thr6ugh the
breach and established the Task Force command post (vic QS
873898).   The "B11 Command remained on the south side of the
breach coordinating movement into the breachhead.   At
approximately 1730, the "B" Command turned lane control over to
the TF 5-4 and proceeded through the breech to the north side.
After clearing the minefield in its effort to rejoin the ~`A'1
Command, the "B" C-7 AAV~was fired upon by an enemy T-55.   The
enemy tank was immediately engaged and destroyed by TOWS from
1st Tanks By 1800, the Task Force Command Group had reunited
without further incident.

     Task Force Log Trains monitored the progress of the battle
and moved in trace of the assault elements.   Due to the
continuing enemy resistance in the breachhead, the decision was
made to leave the Log Trains south of the second obstacle belt
for the evening.

     At 1800, Task Force X-Ray aborted its heliborne landing
into BP X-Ray.   The.helicopters departed to the south and the
Task Force was informed the landing would be reattempted on the
morning 6f 25 February.   During the early evening, the Task
Force consolidated its position, occupying the giound south of
the 93 grid line and east to~BP X-Ray.

     At 2200, the Task Fo~rce 5-4 brought refuelers forward
through the minefield breach lanes and refueled the Task Force
in preparation for the next day of fighting.   Intence fog made
the four hour return journey of the refuelers to the south side
of the belt extremely difficult and hazardous.

     The Task Force received its new mission via Division frag
order at 2330.   The mission reguired the Task Force to block to
the east and northeast while the Division consolidated in zone.
Division intendec' an early ~0~~~~~ landing of TF X-Ray (1/3)
in or~er to anchor the Division's right flank.   Following the
landing of X-Ray,. Task Force Papa Bear had an :on.con1er mission
to ;ccntinue ;the attac)~ to tbe. northwest.

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