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The first indication something was afoot was the number of combat aircraft taking to the skies over East Germany and Czechoslovakia shortly after 0130 hours. 7th Army Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany received the report at 0136 which was logged immediately. The American 7th Army Commander was notified along with his staff. The Battle Captain in the 7th Army Operations Center contacted VII Corps, V Corps and 2nd Armor Division (Forward) at Garlstedt, Germany by landline (telephone) of the alert. This was no drill. Each of the Corps Commands would notify their divisions and the Division Operations Centers would notify their Brigades and on down the Chain of Command.

Captain Stewart received a phone call from LTC Mason to put his company on alert. He grabbed his call list and started calling platoon leaders, Charge of Quarters at the barracks and the First Sergeant. By 0220 hours, everyone in the chain of command was notified. For the soldiers of B Company 3rd Battalion 41st IN (M), it SSG Garrison was on CQ duty. He would knock and open each door in the barracks and yell, "Lariat Advance! Lariat Advance!" This warning alerted all soldiers of the company that they were to wake up, get dressed, grab their ruck sacks and duffel bags and head to the Motor park. The ruck sack would go on their tracked vehicle with them while the duffels would be stacked on the company deuce and half.

The order had been issued, the Soviets and their East German lackies were coming across the one K zone. Everyone was to move to their General Deployment Positions. All personal possessions not going to the front was locked in a footlocker to be shipped home at the earliest conveniences. Spouses and all non-essential personnel were cleared out of the housing area and sent back to the United States of America. The day we all have been waiting for, finally arrived. the US and the USSR were at war.

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By 0900, the 3rd Battalion was in its GDP positions waiting for instructions. By 1000 hours, B Company was ordered to report to the Battalion Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 66th Armor, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Funari. By 1400 hours, Captain Stewart was instructed to give up his 3rd Platoon and by 11430 hours, 2nd Lieutenant Frances Leahy of Worcester, Massachusetts reported to Captain Tom Stewart of Boston. Lieutenant Leahy brought four M60A3 Main Battle Tanks with him. Captain Stewart gave the 22-year old lieutenant a place on the line to cover. The S2 said it would be still another 70 hours or more before the East Germans reached their positions on the west bank of the Elbe River. By 1600 hours, Staff Sergeant Ray Nolan, 3rd Squad Leader, 3rd Platoon, D Company, 17th Engineers reported for duty. He would begin working on an obstacle plan as soon as possible. By 1730 hours, 1st Lieutenant Greg Butanowicz, Fire Support Officer for the newly formed Team Bravo, 3-41 IN (M) was ready for action. The Battalion staff for the 2-66 AR would be ready to issue their Operations Order at 1800 hours. Captain Stewart would attend with first Lieutenant Joel Cole (XO), Lieutenant Butanowicz (FSO), SSG Nolan (ENG) and First Sergeant Marsh (Co 1SG).

It was almost 2100 hours when the meeting was over and LTC Funari had a solid plan for the Battalion Task Force which included three companies of Armor, one company of mech infantry, a 4.2" mortar platoon and its inherent Scout Platoon. C Company, 2-66 AR had been detached to 3-41 IN (M). Team Alpha would be main effort with three platoons of Armor, one platoon of Mech Infantry (3/B/3-41 IN), FIST and a squad of Engineers. Team Tank consisted of two platoons of B Company, 2-66 AR and one platoon of M901 Improved Tow Vehicles from 3-41 IN (M), D Company (-) consisted of two platoons of Armor with no attachments. The Mortar Platoon, Scout platoon and 3rd platoon, D Company would be retained under Battalion Task Force Control.

During the ride back to Team Bravo's GDP positions, Captain Stewart came up with a tentative plan based on the operations order. He issued a Warning Order and Fragmentation Order immediately and by 2300 hours, Team Bravo was moving to their assigned Battle Position. During the trip there, Captain Stewart worked on the Operations Order in the back of the M113 while Corporal Rose manned the .50 caliber Machine Gun in the TC's seat.

By zero dark thirty, the Company Team arrived at their Battle Position. Captain Stewart began assigning sectors to the platoons instructing them not to dig in yet. Once the company was in position, the three Platoon leaders, three Platoon sergeants, FSO, Engineer squad leader, supply sergeant, XO and Company First Sergeant all met at the rear of the Commander's track to listen to his hastily thrown together Operations Order. The Company Team would begin digging in at 0300 hours, 24 hours after the alert had gone out. Even in a Lightning strike, it takes time for all the components to move into place.