20 DEC--This Day in US Military History

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 11:26:47 -0500

1989 – The United States invades Panama in an attempt to overthrow military dictator Manuel Noriega, who had been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges and was accused of suppressing democracy in Panama and endangering U.S. nationals.

Noriega’s Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) were promptly crushed, forcing the dictator to seek asylum with the Vatican anuncio in Panama City, where he surrendered on January 3, 1990.
In 1970, Noriega, a rising figure in the Panamanian military, was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to assist in the U.S. struggle against the spread of communism in Central America. Noriega became involved in drug trafficking and in 1977 was removed from the CIA payroll. After the Marxist Sandinista government came to power in 1979, Noriega was brought back into the CIA fold. In 1983, he become military dictator of Panama. Noriega supported U.S. initiatives in Central America and in turn was praised by the White House, even though a Senate committee concluded in 1983 that Panama was a major center for drug trafficking.
In 1984, Noriega committed fraud in Panama’s presidential election in favor of Nicolýs Ardito Barletta, who became a puppet president. Still, Noriega enjoyed the continued support of the Reagan administration, which valued his aid in its efforts to overthrow Nicaragua’s Sandinista government. In 1986, just months before the outbreak of the Iran-Contra affair, allegations arose concerning Noriega’s history as a drug trafficker, money launderer, and CIA employee. Most shocking, however, were reports that Noriega had acted as a double agent for Cuba’s intelligence agency and the Sandinistas.
The U.S. government disowned Noriega, and in 1988 he was indicted by federal grand juries in Tampa and Miami on drug-smuggling and money-laundering charges. Tensions between Americans in the Panama Canal Zone and Noriega’s Panamanian Defense Forces grew, and in 1989 the dictator annulled a presidential election that would have made Guillermo Endara president. President George H. Bush ordered additional U.S. troops to the Panama Canal Zone, and on December 16 an off-duty U.S. Marine was shot to death at a PDF roadblock.
The next day, President Bush authorized “Operation Just Cause”–the U.S. invasion of Panama to overthrow Noriega. On December 20, 9,000 U.S. troops joined the 12,000 U.S. military personnel already in Panama and were met with scattered resistance from the PDF. By December 24, the PDF was crushed, and the United States held most of the country. Endara was made president by U.S. forces, and he ordered the PDF dissolved.
On January 3, Noriega was arrested by U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents.
The U.S. invasion of Panama cost the lives of only 23 U.S. soldiers and three U.S. civilians. Some 150 PDF soldiers were killed along with an estimated 500 Panamanian civilians. The Organization of American States and the European Parliament both formally protested the invasion, which they condemned as a flagrant violation of international law.
In 1992, Noriega was found guilty on eight counts of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering, marking the first time in history that a U.S. jury convicted a foreign leader of criminal charges. He was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.

http://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/december-20/

December 20

20 December 1606 - Virginia Company settlers left London to establish Jamestown. 1669 - The 1st American jury trial was held in Delaware. Marcus Jacobson was condemned for insurrection and sentence...

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 20 at 2014 11:34 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 11:34:20 -0500

MSG Private RallyPoint Member, there's at least one Ranger on this forum that made that jump!

For you MSG Gene Potocki, from MSG Private RallyPoint Member.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 20 at 2014 11:42 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 11:42:00 -0500

MSG Private RallyPoint Member, I hope you'll forgive this slight digression, but I don't think you'll mind.

On this date, I always remember First Lieutenant Thomas Gary Sikes of Jacksonville, FL. Gary Sikes was a 1962 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, Jacksonville, FL and 1967 graduate of Mercer University, Macon, GA. I graduated from the same high school a few years after Gary, I dated his sister, and he was my friend.
Lieutenant Sikes was the 2nd Platoon Leader, of C Company, 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment (The Professionals), 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal (23rd) Division, United States Army Vietnam.
It was December 20, 1968 when Lieutenant Sikes gave his all in the Quang Ngai province of South Vietnam. He was only 23 years old, and he left a wife and a one month old son that he never even saw.
He is buried in Bowman, GA, and his name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC at coordinates 36W 053.
Requiescat in pace.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Dec 21 at 2014 4:38 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 16:38:15 -0500

On this date in 1974 – Clearance of Suez Canal for mines and unexploded ordnance completed by Joint Task Force. Hmm? Really?

I found this very interesting since I reported to COMMINDIV-125 not that long after they returned from the clean up of the Big Ditch. They actually finished up and returned in the summer of 1975 with the boats in the Well Decks of LPD's. Seems like a slight difference in the story and reality. Just in case anyone cares, the Canal officially reopened June 5, 1975.

Response by SSgt Brian King made Dec 9 at 2021 8:54 PM

SSgt Brian King — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 20:54:48 -0500

I was stationed there after the invasion from 1995-1999. The sites of PDF resistance were still marred by rounds fired from Panama City to Colon. Chorrea (?) was still leveled from the bombing of the PDF headquarters stronghold. From what was a scary start of an assignment with my family, turned out to be a blessing. Beautiful country with friendly people. Well mostly anyway.