Erik_MAA
12-21-2004, 12:21 PM
Sorry I'm a day late.
General Manuel Noriega had become the de facto leader of Panama. Through his influence as the Commander of the Panama Defense Forces, Noriega and his associates elected puppet politicians into Panama's government, beginning in 1983 when he took power.
Corruption was widespread during Noriega's rule, and he was able to use his power to imprison and sometimes kill any who opposed him. In 1987 a former officer of the Panamanian defense force publicly accused Noriega of cooperating with Colombian drug producers.
The US responded by imposing strict economic and political sanctions. Noriega was incited in Miami for drug trafficing, and a warrant issued for his arrest.
Noriega met these sanctions by directing his forces to harass US servicemembers stationed in Panama. Between 1987 and 1989, over 100 violations or the Panama Canal Treaty and the Status of Forces Agreement were logged by US Southern Command. In these separate incidents, armed members of the Panama Defense Forces (PDF) raped one servicemember's wife; assaulted and detained Military Police on duty; sezied a busload of American schoolchildren, and stole US Military equipment. Armed standoffs between US and PDF forces were commonplace.
US guard details and Military Police often found themselves trading shots with unknown snipers in the middle of the night in the US-controlled areas of Arajan, Currundu, and even Ft. Clayton. MPs working gate duty found themselves being shot at in "drive-bys". A rash of break-ins at family housing areas occurred as well. Many of these burglars were caught in the act and arrested by US Military Police, only to be released immediately after being turned over the PDF.
On October 3rd, the Uracca Battallion of the PDF attempted to oust Noriega in a US-backed military coup. The Uraccas actually managed to capture Noriega, but without direct US support the coup was unsucessful. PDF troops from Noriega's handpicked "Batallion 2000" unit entered Panama City and rescued their leader. Members of the Uraccas were subsequently imprisoned or executed - some by Noriega's own hand.
On December 15, 1989, the Panamanian legislature declared Noriega president and that the US and Panama were in a state of war. Shortly therafter, USMC Lt. Robert Paz and some friends, heading out to dinner, encountered a roadblock of masked men in Panama City. Fearful of being robbed or worse, the Marine fled the roadblock. Nearby PDF opened fire on the car, killing Paz and wounding a US Navy officer. Another Navy officer and his wife witnessed the shooting from their car nearby. They were arrested by the PDF and taken to a PDF police station where the officer was beaten and his wife threatened with ****** assault for several hours. After being repeatedly warned to keep quiet about what they saw, the terrified couple was released.
On December 19th, President George Bush ordered Operation Just Cause, an invasion consisting of over 25,000 soldiers, backed by close to 10,000 soldiers already stationed in country. Operation Just Cause had the following objectives:
A. Protect U.S. lives and key sites and facilities.
B. Capture and deliver Noriega to competent authority.
C. Neutralize PDF forces.
D. Neutralize PDF command and control.
E. Support establishment of a U.S.-recognized government in Panama.
F. Restructure the PDF.
The invasion began when units from the 75th Ranger Regiment and 82d Airborne Division conducted airborne assaults to strike key objectives at Rio Hato, and Torrijos/Tocumen airports.
At the same time, Task Force Bayonet, consisting of elements of the 193rd Infantry Brigade and 5/6 Infantry Bn of the 4th Infantry Division (Mech) attacked the "La Commandancia" the PDF headquarters. La Commandancia was located in the Panama City village of Chorrio. Fires set by retreating PDF left thousands of Panamanians homeless and resulted in an unknown number of civillian casualties.
Compounding the confusion was the use of Noriega's "Dignity Battallion" - a force of criminals who had been released from prison and armed to fight for Noriega. The "Dingbats", as they were called by US Forces, wore civillian clothing, which made it difficult to distinguish between enemies and innocent civillians.
The 82d Airborne Division conducted their first combat jump since World War II onto Torrijos International Airport, Panama. In Panama, the paratroopers were joined on the ground by 82nd elements who were already in Panama under the cover of attending "Jungle Warfare Training." After the night combat jump and seizure of the airport, the 82nd conducted follow-on combat air assault missions in Panama City and the surrounding areas.
US Marines also played a role in the operation. Task Force Semper Fidelis secured the Rodman Naval Station, Bridge of the Americas, and areas surrounding Howard Air Force Base. Marines later moved into the interior of Panama and cleared them of PDF resistance.
The 82nd was were followed later by the 2 Brigades of the 7th Infantry Division (Light). By the first day, all D-Day objectives were secured. As initial forces moved to new objectives, follow-on forces from 7th ID moved into the western areas of Panama and into Panama City. The 1/508th Infantry Bn (Airborne), an in-country element of the 193rd Infantry Bde, made a jump into hostile territory in the Darien Province. However, as they encountered no resistance, they never recieved credit for a combat drop.
Following the invasion, US Troops found evidence Noriega was planning to attack US military facilities throughout Panama. At Ft. Amador, troops found loaded .50 machine guns and 60mm mortars aimed at US family housing areas. Plans to attack the Gorgas Army Hospital and the Southern Command Headquarters at Quarry Heights were also discovered.
After a brief standoff at the Vatican Embassy in Panama City, Noriega surrendered on January 3, 1990. He was taken to the US, tried, convicted and jailed on drug trafficking charges and is currently serving his 40-year sentence in Miami.
General Manuel Noriega had become the de facto leader of Panama. Through his influence as the Commander of the Panama Defense Forces, Noriega and his associates elected puppet politicians into Panama's government, beginning in 1983 when he took power.
Corruption was widespread during Noriega's rule, and he was able to use his power to imprison and sometimes kill any who opposed him. In 1987 a former officer of the Panamanian defense force publicly accused Noriega of cooperating with Colombian drug producers.
The US responded by imposing strict economic and political sanctions. Noriega was incited in Miami for drug trafficing, and a warrant issued for his arrest.
Noriega met these sanctions by directing his forces to harass US servicemembers stationed in Panama. Between 1987 and 1989, over 100 violations or the Panama Canal Treaty and the Status of Forces Agreement were logged by US Southern Command. In these separate incidents, armed members of the Panama Defense Forces (PDF) raped one servicemember's wife; assaulted and detained Military Police on duty; sezied a busload of American schoolchildren, and stole US Military equipment. Armed standoffs between US and PDF forces were commonplace.
US guard details and Military Police often found themselves trading shots with unknown snipers in the middle of the night in the US-controlled areas of Arajan, Currundu, and even Ft. Clayton. MPs working gate duty found themselves being shot at in "drive-bys". A rash of break-ins at family housing areas occurred as well. Many of these burglars were caught in the act and arrested by US Military Police, only to be released immediately after being turned over the PDF.
On October 3rd, the Uracca Battallion of the PDF attempted to oust Noriega in a US-backed military coup. The Uraccas actually managed to capture Noriega, but without direct US support the coup was unsucessful. PDF troops from Noriega's handpicked "Batallion 2000" unit entered Panama City and rescued their leader. Members of the Uraccas were subsequently imprisoned or executed - some by Noriega's own hand.
On December 15, 1989, the Panamanian legislature declared Noriega president and that the US and Panama were in a state of war. Shortly therafter, USMC Lt. Robert Paz and some friends, heading out to dinner, encountered a roadblock of masked men in Panama City. Fearful of being robbed or worse, the Marine fled the roadblock. Nearby PDF opened fire on the car, killing Paz and wounding a US Navy officer. Another Navy officer and his wife witnessed the shooting from their car nearby. They were arrested by the PDF and taken to a PDF police station where the officer was beaten and his wife threatened with ****** assault for several hours. After being repeatedly warned to keep quiet about what they saw, the terrified couple was released.
On December 19th, President George Bush ordered Operation Just Cause, an invasion consisting of over 25,000 soldiers, backed by close to 10,000 soldiers already stationed in country. Operation Just Cause had the following objectives:
A. Protect U.S. lives and key sites and facilities.
B. Capture and deliver Noriega to competent authority.
C. Neutralize PDF forces.
D. Neutralize PDF command and control.
E. Support establishment of a U.S.-recognized government in Panama.
F. Restructure the PDF.
The invasion began when units from the 75th Ranger Regiment and 82d Airborne Division conducted airborne assaults to strike key objectives at Rio Hato, and Torrijos/Tocumen airports.
At the same time, Task Force Bayonet, consisting of elements of the 193rd Infantry Brigade and 5/6 Infantry Bn of the 4th Infantry Division (Mech) attacked the "La Commandancia" the PDF headquarters. La Commandancia was located in the Panama City village of Chorrio. Fires set by retreating PDF left thousands of Panamanians homeless and resulted in an unknown number of civillian casualties.
Compounding the confusion was the use of Noriega's "Dignity Battallion" - a force of criminals who had been released from prison and armed to fight for Noriega. The "Dingbats", as they were called by US Forces, wore civillian clothing, which made it difficult to distinguish between enemies and innocent civillians.
The 82d Airborne Division conducted their first combat jump since World War II onto Torrijos International Airport, Panama. In Panama, the paratroopers were joined on the ground by 82nd elements who were already in Panama under the cover of attending "Jungle Warfare Training." After the night combat jump and seizure of the airport, the 82nd conducted follow-on combat air assault missions in Panama City and the surrounding areas.
US Marines also played a role in the operation. Task Force Semper Fidelis secured the Rodman Naval Station, Bridge of the Americas, and areas surrounding Howard Air Force Base. Marines later moved into the interior of Panama and cleared them of PDF resistance.
The 82nd was were followed later by the 2 Brigades of the 7th Infantry Division (Light). By the first day, all D-Day objectives were secured. As initial forces moved to new objectives, follow-on forces from 7th ID moved into the western areas of Panama and into Panama City. The 1/508th Infantry Bn (Airborne), an in-country element of the 193rd Infantry Bde, made a jump into hostile territory in the Darien Province. However, as they encountered no resistance, they never recieved credit for a combat drop.
Following the invasion, US Troops found evidence Noriega was planning to attack US military facilities throughout Panama. At Ft. Amador, troops found loaded .50 machine guns and 60mm mortars aimed at US family housing areas. Plans to attack the Gorgas Army Hospital and the Southern Command Headquarters at Quarry Heights were also discovered.
After a brief standoff at the Vatican Embassy in Panama City, Noriega surrendered on January 3, 1990. He was taken to the US, tried, convicted and jailed on drug trafficking charges and is currently serving his 40-year sentence in Miami.