In this essay, I will be writing about the small unit of 23 Delta Force operatives who went in to Panama, and successfully rescued an American citizen who was being held in a lockdown Panamanian prison for a total of nine months. I will also be writing about the types of leadership that were exhibited during this time, and the events leading up to the rescue.
In 1989, Kurt Muse an American business man and reported CIA operative was arrested in Miami airport after assisting a small group of his Panamanian friends to broadcast a message of what they called “a message of hope” over the radio during a speech being given by militaristic tyrant, General Manuel Noriega. Noriega took this as a threat, and took Muse to Carcel Modelo prison for him …show more content…
personnel were stopped at a roadblock outside the PDF (Panamanian Defense Force) headquarters in the El Chorrillo neighborhood of Panama City. The United States Department of Defense said that the servicemen were unarmed and in a private vehicle and that they attempted to flee the scene only after their vehicle was surrounded by a crowd of civilians and Panamanian Defense Force troops. Second Lieutenant Robert Paz of the United States Marine Corps was shot and killed during the incident. This was the last straw for President Bush. Once he received word, he made a statement of the attack, and he launched a massive military effort to defeat Noriega, and neutralize the Panamanian military. Part of the attack includes the secret mission to rescue Kurt Muse which was called, ‘Operation Acid …show more content…
Fifteen minutes before the mission to capture Noriega began, Operation Acid Gambit was underway. The plan was to get to the prison and get Muse out before the entire Panamanian army was brought into the streets. The commandos were flying in on four MH-6 helicopters or also known as “little birds” because of their small size and agility. (Military 1) All four chalks were with two pilots and four heavily armed men. The first chalk’s responsibility was to land on the roof of the prison, and set security. Snipers were placed on the front two corners of the building, and the other two were facing the street to keep a look out for on coming enemies. Second chalk was also told to land on the roof of the prison, and was to take out the door that would get them into the main area of the prison. Team leader Steve Dawson and another unidentified member of Delta Force whose position in the squad was the team breacher, were set to complete this task. However, when the team breacher pulled the M-60 fusing matter, he pulled the the line hard enough that the explosives ripped out of the sockets, and completely dethatched itself from the door, falling to the ground. Normally, there is a six to seven second delay until the explosives detonate. Team Leader Dawson waited ten seconds, then bravely went to the explosives and re-attached them to the door to continue with the mission. The second
In 1989, Kurt Muse an American business man and reported CIA operative was arrested in Miami airport after assisting a small group of his Panamanian friends to broadcast a message of what they called “a message of hope” over the radio during a speech being given by militaristic tyrant, General Manuel Noriega. Noriega took this as a threat, and took Muse to Carcel Modelo prison for him …show more content…
personnel were stopped at a roadblock outside the PDF (Panamanian Defense Force) headquarters in the El Chorrillo neighborhood of Panama City. The United States Department of Defense said that the servicemen were unarmed and in a private vehicle and that they attempted to flee the scene only after their vehicle was surrounded by a crowd of civilians and Panamanian Defense Force troops. Second Lieutenant Robert Paz of the United States Marine Corps was shot and killed during the incident. This was the last straw for President Bush. Once he received word, he made a statement of the attack, and he launched a massive military effort to defeat Noriega, and neutralize the Panamanian military. Part of the attack includes the secret mission to rescue Kurt Muse which was called, ‘Operation Acid …show more content…
Fifteen minutes before the mission to capture Noriega began, Operation Acid Gambit was underway. The plan was to get to the prison and get Muse out before the entire Panamanian army was brought into the streets. The commandos were flying in on four MH-6 helicopters or also known as “little birds” because of their small size and agility. (Military 1) All four chalks were with two pilots and four heavily armed men. The first chalk’s responsibility was to land on the roof of the prison, and set security. Snipers were placed on the front two corners of the building, and the other two were facing the street to keep a look out for on coming enemies. Second chalk was also told to land on the roof of the prison, and was to take out the door that would get them into the main area of the prison. Team leader Steve Dawson and another unidentified member of Delta Force whose position in the squad was the team breacher, were set to complete this task. However, when the team breacher pulled the M-60 fusing matter, he pulled the the line hard enough that the explosives ripped out of the sockets, and completely dethatched itself from the door, falling to the ground. Normally, there is a six to seven second delay until the explosives detonate. Team Leader Dawson waited ten seconds, then bravely went to the explosives and re-attached them to the door to continue with the mission. The second