After the ground offensive, General Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. of the coalition forces wanted a spot deep in Iraq to discuss the capitulation terms.

He chose Safwan Airfield in southern Iraq to hold a formal cease-fire ceremony, as a demonstration that the coalition was in control of the war.

On the morning of March 1, 1991, M1A1 Abrams and M3A2 Bradleys from VII corps arrived at Safwan Airfield to find a group of Iraqi T-72s defending the base and the adjoining village.

However, because of a miscommunication and a false report of friendly artillery fire, the 1st Infantry Division fell short of its target by ten miles.

As result, LTC Wilson, the 1/4 Cavalry commander, scrambled his troops with orders to seize Safwan by 1600 of March 1.

At first, the area seemed to be deserted, but overhead, helicopter crews reported the dug in tanks of an entire Iraqi brigade.

Pope reiterated the order, shouting over the thumping of the copters’ blades that the Americans would attack if the Iraqis did not move.

Spitting a wad of blood at their feet (he had recently cut his lip) he said, “If you don’t leave by 16:00 hours, we will kill you.” That ended the negotiations.