In December 1990 1/8 deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield where they remained until Operation Desert Storm began in February 1991. On 24 February 1991 (G Day) at 06:15 1st Battalion 8th Marines, which was designated as one of three assault battalions leading the way for the 2nd Marine Division, reported to be at the edge of the obstacle belt in lanes Green 5 and 6. The enemy's defensive belts consisted of the two minefields and the wire obstacles noted in earlier intelligence reports. The Green lanes, carrying 1/8 were not as quickly cleared as the Red and Blue lanes. Several of the engineer vehicles had struck mines and been put out of action. Line charges had caught on overhead power lines, or had failed to detonate.